The Humble Musubi: Hawaii's Most Beloved On-the-Go Snack

Ask any Hawaii local what food they miss most when they leave the islands, and musubi will be in the top three answers. This simple handheld snack — a block of seasoned rice topped with SPAM and wrapped in nori — has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Hawaiian food culture.

The story of musubi is a story of immigrant ingenuity. During World War II, SPAM became widely available in Hawaii as a U.S. military ration, and it was adopted by the local Japanese-American population.

At Makai, we take musubi seriously. We use Japanese short-grain rice seasoned with a house blend of rice vinegar, mirin, and a touch of salt. Our nori is toasted daily.