During World War II, the people of Hawaii developed a deep love for Spam. The canned meat had become a staple in army food due to its long shelf life, and when it hit the islands, it sparked a craze that’s still going strong today. At some point, someone decided to combine spam with rice and nori to create a snack known as Spam Musubi.

Some say it was a nutritionist called Barbara Funamura who had both American and Japanese heritage. Others say it was a Japanese housewife called Mitsuko Kaneshiro. All the while, survivors of the Japanese American internment camps in the US claimed it was their invention. In any case, August 8th is now officially National SPAM Musubi Day for Hawaii, as set by L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.