Honolulu Magazine - Waikīkī SPAM® JAM Festival is this weekend: Event Guide

HONOLULU (KHON2) — If you’re living in or visiting Hawaiʻi and are looking for weekend plans that will satisfy any kind of craving you have, then Waikīkī has you covered.

The Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival will be returning Saturday, April 25, and will turn Kalākaua Avenue into one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest street parties.

Crowds of residents and visitors enjoy the 2025 Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival on Saturday, April 26, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo/Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival) (Crowds of residents and visitors enjoy the 2025 Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival on Saturday, April 26, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo/Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival))

Think SPAM® musubi, hula, live music, local shopping and a drone show lighting up the sky over Waikīkī Beach.

The festival is free, family-friendly and packed with more than 50 food and retail booths that will have SPAM® as the cornerstone of everything being offered.

For locals, it is a favorite tradition. For visitors, it is one of the most unique ways to experience Hawaiʻi’s food culture.

Another great offer is coming from Southwest Airlines. They are offering 20% off flights to and from Oʻahu from the neighbor islands from April 18 to May 3.

When and where

The festival will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, along Kalākaua Avenue between Seaside and Liliʻuokalani avenues along the beach in the heart of Waikīkī.

There will be three stages of live entertainment, food vendors, local arts and crafts, keiki activities and appearances by SPAMMY™ and friends.

A check presentation to Hawaiʻi Foodbank is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at the Outrigger Stage. This is followed by a SPAM® brand-themed drone show over Waikīkī Beach at 8:30 p.m.

Southwest Airlines is also going to be giving away two tickets at the festival to fly anywhere Southwest Airlines goes.

What to eat

This is where chefs get creative. Festival favorites include

  • Duke’s Waikīkī’s Candied SPAM® Hula Pie

  • Duke’s Waikīkī Teriyaki SPAM® Katsu Sandwich made with King’s Hawaiian sweet roll

  • King’s Hawaiian recipe focus with Appetito’s SPAM® Caprese Slider

  • Hula Grill’s SPAM® Pâté Pork Belly Banh Mi sandwich

  • Shokudo Waikīkī’s SPAM® and Tamago Temaki sushi

  • Maui Brewing Company will serve its 100-layer SPAM® Yakitori on ginger scallion fried rice

  • Wagyu Sizzle brings a Wagyu beef and SPAM® skewer

  • Da Bald Guy’s SPAM® Sloppy Joe made with King’s Hawaiian slider bun

  • Il Gelato will offer gelato with SPAM® inspired toppings

The Dine In SPAM® Event also runs from April 18 to May 3, with special SPAM® dishes at participating restaurants before and after the festival.

Other food vendors include:

  • Musubi Cafe IYASUME

  • Buho Cocina Y Cantina

  • Shokudo Waikiki

  • Maui Brewing Company

  • Sky Waikiki

  • Shorefyre/Skybox

  • Kuhio Avenue Food Hall

  • Duke’s Waikiki

  • Hula Grill

  • Appetito

  • Da Bald Guy

  • Sun Noodle

  • Il Gelato

  • Kirin Restaurant

  • Awiwi Grill

  • Dick’s Lechon

  • Wagyuya Sizzle

  • Mahaloha Burger

  • Bite Size 808

  • Asato Family

  • Da Hub

  • Da Ultimate Grindz

  • Corner Rolls

  • Linaka’s Catering

  • Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood

Event lineup

It wouldn’t be a festival in Hawaiʻi without entertainment. This year, there will be one full stage dedicated to hula performances by

Hālau Hula o Kekaikuihālā

  • Hui o Napualaikauikaʻiū

  • HMPS dancers

  • Hālau Hula O Hōkūlani

Live performances will feature:

  • Irie Love

  • Keilana Mokulehua

  • Dillon Pakele

  • Jody Kamisato & Friends

  • Party Foul

  • Pop 808 Hawaiʻi

  • Olaniu

Shopping and special finds

Festival merch is a big draw every year with the 2026 Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival collector T-shirt that will be sold at two retail booth locations and online starting Friday, April 24, at 9 a.m.

Festivalgoers can also shop limited edition SPAM® inspired OluKai slippers created especially for SPAM JAM®, along with exclusive merchandise and apparel at the festival’s pop up shop.

Retail booths will include local favorites like:

These Stuffed Cookies

  • Simply Wood

  • Diamond Head Taffy

  • Aloha Charms

  • Charles Chang Ukuleles

  • O‘ahu Gear

  • Bamboo Stickers

  • Bamboo Stickers

  • Mana Jewelry

  • Asian Elements

  • Pa‘ani Pups

  • Bay Dreams

  • Hawaiian Premier Puzzles

  • BV Global

  • Hawaiian Paradise Candies

  • Aloha Wood Art

Giving Back

Waikīkī SPAM JAM® also supports the community with a portion of festival proceeds going to benefit Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaiʻi and Waikīkī Community Center.

Hawaiʻi Foodbank will be on-site throughout the festival to accept canned food and monetary donations from attendees. So, it’s a great opportunity to give back to the community, whether you’re a resident or a visitor.

Local students will also support participating restaurants by helping serve food through a partnership with ClimbHI.

Before you go

Expect large crowds throughout the evening, especially around the food booths and main entertainment areas. This means arriving early can help with parking, shorter lines and the best selection of food and festival merchandise.

Bring your appetite, comfortable shoes and a little extra room if limited edition SPAM® inspired slippers or a collector T-shirt are on your shopping list.

In Waikīkī this weekend, dinner might come on a stick, dessert could include SPAM® and even the night sky is part of the celebration.

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2026 News & MediaNaomi YoungArticles