StarBulletin.com

Get ready, Spam fans


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POSTED: Thursday, April 23, 2009

How much do you love Spam? How many ways do you eat it? Or, rather, how many ways WOULD you eat it? Fried rice, fried noodles and musubi aside, there's Loco Moco with Spam, Guava Mango BBQ Spam sliders and, of course, Spam Nachos.

Die-hard fans won't need to ask where to find all these culinary concoctions - they know to head out to the Seventh Annual Spam Jam from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday along Kalakaua Avenue.

The free block party, a fundraiser for Hawaii Foodbank, will close the street to traffic and feature two entertainment stages. KINE's stage will feature John Cruz, Pilioha, Kaukahi and Halau Olapa Ku'ikali'i o Hokuaulani, while the KCCN stage will host Kapena, Ilona, Beach 5 and Herb Ohta Jr.

Restaurants serving up innovative dishes this year include Aloha Table at Waikiki, Cheeseburger Beachwalk, Coconut Willy's, Dorak Sushi, Gordon Biersch, Jimmy Buffett's, Murphy's Bar & Grill, PF Chang's and the Shack Waikiki.

The goal is to collect at least 20,000 cans of Spam. Bring one and enter to win a trip to a neighbor island, restaurant gift certificates, tickets to Laughtrack Theater or Spam Jam merchandise.

Other organizations will be holding their own food events elsewhere.

» The Third Annual Taste of East Oahu: A benefit for Angel Network and various Calvary by the Sea Church educational and youth programs brings together some of Oahu's top restaurant venues 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday on the church grounds at 5339 Kalanianaole Highway.

3360 on the Rise, Hokulani Bakery, Chai's Island Bistro, HASR Wine Co. and Michel's are some of the eateries participating. Entertainment includes Jon Osorio and Steve Brown, and vocalist Rosanna Perch. Plus, there will be a silent auction of works by local artists.

Admission is $60. Regular and VIP tables are also available. Call 377-5477 or 551-3117, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit http://www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

» Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle 17th Annual “;I Love Kailua”; Town Party: This block party, which closes Kailua Road from Hahani Street to Kuulei Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, includes food from 25 restaurants, music and hula performances, art in the park, crafts from 50 Windward artisans, a plant sale, keiki rides and free health screenings.

The entertainment lineup on the main stage includes Mihana Souza, Harry Koizumi and the Navy Pacific Fleet Band. A hula stage will feature nine halau throughout the day.

Event buttons are on sale for a $3 donation at 30 Kailua venues. Call Amy Hammond at 234-0404.

Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle has spent some 60 years beautifying Kailua by planting and replanting trees and caring for “;heritage trees”; registered with the state.