HONOLULU (KHON2) -- It's a snack that has withstood the test of time. First enjoyed in 1937 during World War II, spam musubi has become a popular snack enjoyed around the world, especially here in Hawaii. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You However, the history behind its creation remains somewhat uncertain. Well-recognized franchises like L&L, the original Hawaiian Barbecue that serves authentic Hawaiian plates, have been serving spam musubi since 1999, according to the restaurant. "Spam musubi is a symbol and staple of Hawaii," stated Brandon Dela Cruz, L&L Director of Marketing. "Through all of our locations, we sell 6.2 million spam musubi annually." If Hawaii were its own country, it would be a top-five market for SPAM in the world, according to the brand owner of SPAM, Hormel Foods. The company sells seven million cans just in Hawaii each year. "It's a perfect manifestation of Hawaiian culture, and it's done in a way that is accessible to anybody," said Jason Baskin, SPAM Director of Marketing. "We refer to Hawaii as the cultural heartbeat of the SPAM brand." Spam musubi has many origin stories. Mitsuko Kaneshiro's is one of several; according to her family, she is one of the earliest creators of the iconic snack. Fall harvest season kicks off at Waimanalo Country Farms "Every day, she would make about 500 per day, and this was before the mold was made. So, she made everything by hand, handmade every single day," said Shane Kaneshiro, Mitsuko's grandson. Mitsuko grew up during WWII and lived through the Battle of Okinawa before moving to Honolulu. She began selling spam musubi in the 70s, a decade before it became popular. "She always told me, 'Eat, eat more. Have another spam musubi,'" said Shane. "I enjoyed every time I would go to her house, but now I think I miss it because it was her way of making it." Mitsuko passed away in July 2024. Her family now honors her by sharing the story of her legendary spam musubi. "We'd like to see spam musubi become as popular as tacos," stated Dela Cruz. L&L established National Spam Musubi Day to "share how delicious it is with everybody," according to the restaurant. From convenience stores to gas stations and restaurants, Mitsuko's family says no musubi sold anywhere will measure up to hers. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news "It just does not taste like my grandmother's spam musubi. That's the first thing I say," stated Shane. "She'll always be with us. She has this legacy of spam musubi. Every time I eat it, that's her memory."