Cultural Conversations, Macaroni Salad and Spam!

There’s something deeply comforting about sharing a meal with friends—especially new mom friends. Let’s be real: making friends as an adult isn’t always easy. But when it happens, when you find yourself around a table, swapping stories, laughter, and bites of something delicious, it feels like a small but significant victory.

Recently, my travels for kids’ activities led me to two Hawaiian food chains—Hawaiian Brothers and Mo’ Betta’s. Two different places, two different conversations, both sparking the same realization: food is more than sustenance. It’s a bridge to history, culture, and belonging.

At Hawaiian Brothers, macaroni salad became the topic of discussion. What is its cultural significance in Hawaiian cuisine? We weren’t sure. The question stuck with me, nagging at the back of my mind until I had to look it up. (By the way, if you ever find yourself needing a restroom stop, Hawaiian Brothers has some of the cleanest and best-smelling bathrooms around. Grab some pineapple while you’re there—it’s divine!)

At Mo’ Betta’s, the topic shifted to Spam—a staple of Hawaiian cuisine with a fascinating history tied to World War II rationing and cultural adaptation. Both moments reminded me of the countless ways food connects us to our heritage, our ancestors, and even to strangers across the table.

Food carries memory. It carries identity. Whether it’s your grandmother’s chocolate cake recipe, the rolling pin passed down for generations to make tortillas, or the traditional dishes of your homeland, these small but mighty pieces of history keep culture alive.

I was recently captivated by TikTok user @Life.with.Grandma, who shares interviews with her 105-year-old grandmother, Jessie. One story stuck with me: her grandmother’s rolling pin, fashioned from an old broomstick handle, a humble yet powerful testament to resilience and tradition.

This reflection led me back to the stories in Adopting the Forgotten: Women Edition. Among the photographs I rescued from obscurity, two Native Hawaiian women caught my attention. They had attended college in Chicago in the 1950s, members of Hui of Hawaii, a group that bonded together to preserve their culture while so far from home. Their presence in that photo speaks volumes about the strength of cultural identity, the power of community, and the importance of remembering.

Hui of Hawaii, Chicago c1950s

Culture matters—plain and simple. It’s not enough to study it from a distance; we must appreciate, honor, and carry it forward. My book, Adopting the Forgotten: Women Edition, is a testament to that. It’s about lost stories found, about history waiting to be recognized, about the people and traditions that shape who we are.

I hope you’ll pick up a copy—not just to admire the photographs but to feel the lives within them. To celebrate culture, to remember, and to connect. Because in the end, aren’t we all just trying to find pieces of ourselves in the stories of others?

Where can you purchase a copy of the book? Any retailer can order it for you. Ask your local bookstore to support your local community. Or you can order directly from me, especially if you desire a signed copy. I appreciate your support! https://www.janinechellington.com/category/all-products