Lei necklaces are a well-known symbol for a luau.
A Hawaiian king threw the first formal luau in the early 1800s to promote the idea of men and women eating together. These days a luau is a casual event with a tropical beach theme. Craft projects for a luau can also be casual, with simple materials and techniques. From quick kid crafts to complex adult crafts, there are luau-themed projects to suit any need.
Flower Leis
A lei is a Hawaiian flower and/or leaf wreath that you wear around your neck. A child's flower lei requires green string, drinking straws and tissue paper. Each child cuts the drinking straw into short pieces and the tissue paper into circles. Alternating straws and tissue paper flowers slide onto the string to create a floral lei necklace.
An adult's flower lei requires green ribbon, green chenille stem and tissue paper. Each flower consists of several large tissue paper circles stacked together. Both ends of a folded chenille stem spear the middle of the paper flower and twist together in the back to force the paper to fold and flute like a flower. Each twisted stem wraps tightly around the ribbon to form a fluffy, flower-filled necklace.
Grass Skirt
Create a grass skirt from paper to wear at a hula dance during the luau. Each skirt consists of paper grocery bags with a side cut open, the bottoms cut away and the outside painted green. Thin cuts from the bottom to three inches below the top on each bag give the paper a rustic grass look. The top flaps of the bags fold over a braided yarn belt to form a simple grass skirt. You can wear the skirt or use several skirts to decorate the sides of chairs, tables and counters.
Luau Cushions
Martha Stewart's website features handmade floor cushions that can provide comfortable seating for guests and add a touch of primitive island d cor to your luau. Each cushion consists of a foam pad wrapped in green burlap hand-painted with dark green leaf outlines. Green twine stitching around the sides secures the burlap pocket around the foam. The cushions work in any size, from a square single seat to a rectangular triple seat.
Pineapple Centerpiece
Get creative with pineapples, flowers and seashells to make attractive table centerpieces for a luau. The centerpiece consist of a large pineapple with the lower third covered in flat seashells, the middle third in round seashells and the upper third in flat seashells. A small, silk flower lei forms a colorful trim around the bottom of the pineapple. Large silk flower sticking up from among the pineapple leaves complement the colorful lei and balance the overall design.
Tags: tissue paper, chenille stem, flat seashells, flower requires, flower requires green, luau Each, paper Each