Spam is so popular around the world! Even in Korea, I saw it in the stores! I remember small kid time my grandparents always kept at least a couple of months worth of canned goods in the pantry, including stacks of Spam. We also had big jerry-cans of water that were refilled regularly with fresh water. We also had jerry-cans of kerosene on hand for the kerosene lamps.
In those days, the electric power went out fairly regularly, so we would use kerosene lamps in the evening. Speaking of electricity, did you know that the Hawaiʻi Electric Company is one of the oldest power companies in the US? It was incorporated on 13 October 1891.
Back then, any time there was a big storm we knew that the barge would be delayed, and that the grocery stores would run low on supplies, until they could safely make the inter-island voyage. But we also were ready because shipping strikes were a regular thing, and the barges might not leave, or if they did, they might not get unloaded.
Today, our Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency recommends stocking on enough food and water for at least 14 days, essential medications, and enough battery power to run your communications devices. I have an Ecoflow system with solar panels that I use for the boat and to recharge my computer when I want to work off-grid.
Keeping your supplies in a rolling cooler is handy because if you need to evacuate it’s easier to move things, and coolers also can double as seats.
Here is a starter list of foods. Modify it to suit your own tastes.
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruits
- Canned Meats
- Canned Soups
- Freeze-Dried Meals
- Freeze-Dried Soup Mixes
- Freeze-Dried Fruits
- Freeze-Dried Vegetables
- Dehydrated Pasta and Rice
- Dehydrated Meat (like beef jerky)
- Rice
- Dried Pasta
- Legumes
- Oats and/or other grains
- Freeze-Dried Meats
- Canned Tuna
- Beef Jerky
- Peanut Butter or Other Nut Butters
- Nuts and Seeds
- MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)
- Emergency Food Bars
This Hawaiʻi Public Radio episode has some great tips.
So, whether it’s hurricane season, storm season, a tsunami on the way, earthquakes, shipping strikes, pandemics, or anything else, remember we are the most isolated populated land mass on the planet, so we need to be self sufficient and able to take care of ourselves at any time.
Food security and sustainability is so important to our islands!
Following are some useful websites:
https://www.hawaiigreengrowth.org
https://www.sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org