The popularity of the luau party theme has yielded an abundance of Hawaiian inspired party products that are readily available in party supply stores. Pick up some of these decorations and props, create a Hawaiian style menu and plan some luau party games. This takes some time and planning, but your effort will result in a Hawaiian luau party your guests will truly enjoy. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Send Hawaiian themed invitations. Check in the party goods store for invitations with tropical themes such as flowers, hula dancers, flip flops or surfboards.
Create easy flyer style invitations using clip art and colored paper. Select a bright colored paper from the craft store. Type the text you want on your invite in a word processing program. Include the date, time and location of the party. Add any instructions such as "Wear a grass skirt and Hawaiian shirt." Find Hawaiian themed images from free clip art websites. Download the images to your computer. Insert the image into the place you would like it to appear on your document. When you are satisfied with your invitations, print them on the tropical colored paper.
2. Purchase leis, inflatable palm trees, tropical flower garlands, grass skirts, grass table skirts, paper drink umbrellas and tiki torches (for an outdoor party) from your local or online party goods supplier. Decorate your party space with the inflatable palm trees and flower garlands. Line your tables with the grass skirts. Place the tiki torches away from flammable items. Use paper lanterns and floral string lights for additional accent lighting. These can also be purchased from the party goods supplier.
3. Greet your guests in traditional Hawaiian manner by placing leis around their necks when they arrive at your party.
4. Serve Hawaiian inspired food such as barbecued pork, tropical fruit salad and shrimp and pineapple skewers. Grill meat that has been marinated in a pineapple or Hawaiian sauce. These marinades can usually be found in the supermarket. If cooking your own party fare is not an option, have the food supplied by a caterer whose menu includes Hawaiian dishes or order Hawaiian style pizzas from your local pizzeria.
5. Mix tropical drinks. Mai Tai is the typical alcoholic beverage associated with Hawaii, but any fruity, tropical drink will suffice. Serve both alcohol and virgin drinks in cored out coconut shells topped with miniature paper umbrellas. If you don't want to use the real thing, plastic coconut beverage containers can also be found in the party goods store.
6. Entertain guests with Hawaiian inspired activities. Hold a hula hoop contest where the person who keeps the hula hoop going longest wins. Have a hula dancing competition. Divide guests into dancers and judges. Give the dancers grass skirts, play a Hawaiian music CD and have the dancers do their best interpretation of the hula. The judges then vote for the winner.
7. Give game prizes and party favors with a tropical theme. Some item ideas include a package of Kona Hawaiian coffee, macadamia nuts, Jimmy Buffet or Beach Boys CD's, sunglasses, a beach towel and flip flops.
Tags: party goods, colored paper, grass skirts, Hawaiian inspired, luau party