Hawaii celebrates wonders of Spam

In Hawaii, Spam rules. No, not the kind that you get in your e-mail - the kind you eat.

To honor Spam lovers in Hawaii, Hormel Foods released a new flavor - Portuguese sausage Spam - exclusively for the state at a street festival on Saturday in Honolulu. The flavor, which was available to sample at the event, may eventually be sold elsewhere in the region and eventually internationally, the company said.

Spam was introduced by Hormel in 1937. The history behind the salty luncheon meat in Hawaii goes back to World War II, when the company started shipping it to military personnel stationed in the islands. Spam did not need to be refrigerated, so it could be shipped to the state without spoiling during the long journey from the US mainland.