As a food writer in Hawaii, I have to write about Spam at least once a year. I believe it's in the state Constitution.

For all the culinary creativity going on in these islands, it is our enhanced consumption of Spam that the world loves to comment upon. We have only ourselves to blame, though, putting away 7 million cans every year, making Spam musubi for all practical purposes the state food. And, of course, there is our continued support of the Waikiki Spam Jam. Which happens on Saturday and motivates these particular Spam thoughts.

This is what you're in for if you opt to join the thousands jamming Kalakaua Avenue for the Spam-inspired street fair: entertainment, crafts, activity booths and lots of Spam cooked up lots of ways by chefs who normally spend their days with a higher class of ingredients. For example, Spam Mahi Carbonara from Atlantis Seafood and Steak, Guava Mango BBQ Spam from Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant and Spam Fusion Fajitas from Jimmy Buffet's at the Beachcomber.

That last item, the fajitas, comes from Stacy Slagor of San Diego, who won the national Great American Spam Championship, chosen from among 800 entries.

WAIKIKI SPAM JAM         » Place: Kalakaua Avenue         » When: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday         » Admission: Free         » Information: www.spamjamhawaii.com

Slagor's grand prize is a trip here to attend the Spam Jam — and Jimmy Buffet's will be serving her dish for the week after Spam Jam with a portion of the proceeds going to the Hawaii Foodbank.

In fact, the Spam Jam itself is a benefit for the food bank, which, by the way, puts Spam high on its list of preferred donations.

In Spam we trust.

If you'd like to do something different with your Spam next time, here is Slagor's championship recipe:

SPAM FUSION FAJITAS

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced into thin wedges
1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 (12-ounce) can Spam Classic, in 1/4-inch thick strips
8 fajita-size flour tortillas, warmed
» Salsa:
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
1 (4-ounce) can diced jalapenos, drained
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

Combine salsa ingredients; set aside.

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers. Saute 5 to 8 minutes, until lightly browned and softened; remove and set aside. In same skillet, fry Spam until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Return onions and peppers to skillet and stir to combine. Spoon onto tortillas. Top with salsa. Serves 4.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 750 calories, 38 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, greater than 2,300 mg sodium, 82 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 21 g protein

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Nutritional analyses by Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S. Send queries to “;By Request,”; Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813. Send e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).