Whether your
Luau Party is for a child's birthday party, a
tropical bridesmaid's luncheon, a middle-of-winter bash, or for any occasion
you need to celebrate, start with the Invitations.
If you are sending out traditional paper or imprinted invites, sprinkle some
confetti
inside the invitations.
Attach a computer-generated or hand-written
tag to a Lei, a Seashell Nut Cup, a tissue pineapple, a pair of inexpensive
sunglasses... anything that goes with your theme! Use curling ribbon or pipe
cleaners to attach.
Create your own Luau Invitation by using
colored cardstock and cut into shapes (pink flamingo, palm tree, sunglasses,
etc).
Write the party details on flips flops and mail to
your guests and they can wear them to the party!
Start out big with a Polynesian Hut and add some Tiki Torches,
which can be found at
Shindigz.
Use grass skirts for your table skirting.
Have a few Palm Trees scattered around.
Go large! - Put a palm tree into a wadding pool filled with
sand and real shells, starfish, and a coconut to the base of the
tree. Add a little blue Gossamer and some little clear balloon “bubbles” to
hide the sides of the wadding pool.
A kayak, small sailboat, beach umbrella, and surfboard are all great props to
use that you may at home, can borrow from a friend or rent from a sporting
goods store.
Inflatable Parrots and Metallic Fish around the room add some humor and fun.
Use blue gossamer to easily create a stunning tropical waterfall. You can use doorways and ladders, or your waterfall can be attached directly to a
ceiling with pushpins.
Cove walls with
rolls of blue Seamless Paper. Recruit some
creative helpers to paint various beach scenes – waves, palm trees, the sun,
beach towels, etc, or simply hang some Luau Foil Fish next to the walls.
Use Tiki Twinkling Lights indoors or out!
To cover entire walls, our merchants also offer a variety of
Tropical Photo
Murals. These are the easiest way to turn any party room into a tropical
Hawaiian Luau paradise!
Tiki Masks are great for adding some mystery to the whole South Pacific
scene!
Our merchants offer several centerpieces that work well with a Luau theme.
For example, Polynesian Paradise Centerpiece would look very festive over
green table coverings. Add a Raffia Table Skirting to the base of the tables
for an extra flair.
Place large round glass fish bowls on your tables, fill with water, and add
Seashell Floating Candles, large blossoms of tropical flowers, or some live
goldfish or tropical fish. In this case, cover your tables with blue Gossamer
for a lively effect.
Use candles. Try grouping several
Coconut Votive Holders together. Sprinkle a little Confetti or Metallic
Shred to the center.
Luau Party Games and Activities
In your invitation, encourage your guests to come dressed tropical style. Grass
skirts and beachcomber hats. It is always good to have a few on hand for
unprepared guests!
When your guests arrive, greet them the traditional Hawaiian way by hanging a
lei or shell necklace around their necks.
Do the Limbo! And for a twist on this timeless
favorite try these variations:
Flashlight limbo – turn off all the lights, and use the beam of the
flashlight as your limbo stick.
Garden-hose limbo – if party guests have their swimsuits on, or if the day is
too hot for comfort…try using your garden-hose as the limbo stick.
Purchase or borrow a couple of hula-hoops. Let guests know that at a
specified time there will be a "hula" contest, and encourage them to practice
if the mood strikes. Offer prizes, such as sun block and Chapstick™, for
endurance and creativity.
The traditional hula dance was developed centuries ago when Hawaiians had no
written language. History and stories were passed by word of mouth or set to
music and danced. Fill a bowl with key phrases, turn up the tropical music,
and let your guests hula their way to winning. You could use "beach" related
movies, songs and TV shows as key phrases. ("Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii";
"Book 'em Dano, from Hawaii 5-0"; "Itsy Bitsy Teensy Weensy Yellow Polka Dot
Bikini")
Never underestimate the
power of music to set the tone for your
luau party. CDs
and tapes with a “Best Of” Hawaii theme are available in most of our
stores.... You will almost feel the warm ocean breeze. If dancing is in your
plans, try lots and lots of Beach Boys and Reggae!
Have guests take turns making up silly hula dances for the others to try to
follow. Be prepared to jump-start this one yourself. There is nothing like
seeing mom or dad looking goofy to break the ice and make the shyest child
feel comfortable participating.
Supply a variety of colorful beads or small shells with holes drilled into
them, along with leather cord to the children. Knot one end, and they are
ready to make ankle bracelets. They can also create necklaces and wrist
bracelets.
As a craft activity, have the children make tissue posies out of brightly
colored tissue paper. When they are complete, use a hot melt glue gun to
attach them to a hair comb, bobby pin or barrette, and add the flowers to the
children's hair.
Play a game of “Pin the Monkey on the Palm Tree” - this classic game with a
tropical twist is sure to be a hit with young children.
Luau Party Food & Cake Ideas
Using a fresh pineapple, slice a thin piece off the bottom, so that it stands
level on a plate. Skewer various pieces of bite-sized fruit (watermelon
chunks or balls, grapes, pineapple pieces, strawberries, etc.) on wooden
shish-ka-bob sticks, or long toothpicks. Stick evenly spaced skewers into the
pineapple. This makes a delicious and very easy centerpiece.
Turn a
Beachcomber Hat
upside-down, line it with plastic wrap, and use it as a serving dish for dry
food.
Fill a plastic or metal tub with ice and add canned, bottled or boxed
(Hawaiian Punch) beverages appropriate for the age of your guests. Tie palm
thatching or a
Raffia Table Skirt to the top edge of the tub, and scatter a
few silk or real flowers among the beverages.
Fill pineapple boats (slice fresh pineapple in half and cut out the inside of
the fruit) with tuna or chicken salad. Even salads purchased from the deli
counter look extra-special when presented this way. If you are making your
own, be creative and add mandarin oranges, grapes, and slivered almonds or
walnuts for a truly tropical experience.
Use hollowed-out coconuts to serve dips, macadamia nuts, or a berry mixture.
For desert, try coconut or banana cream pie.
Luau Party Recipes:
Citrus Kabobs
Ingredients:
2 oranges (juice and zest of 1 orange; cut wedges of other)
1/2 lb. scallops
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. grated gingerroot
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Directions:
Juice of one orange and finely grate the rind (zest). Cut the other orange
into wedges and set aside. Place scallops and shrimp in a resealable plastic
bag. Combine orange zest, orange juice, soy sauce, gingerroot, garlic and
cayenne pepper. Pour over seafood and marinate in the refrigerator for 30
minutes. Drain, reserving the marinade. Thread the shrimp on skewers
alternately with the scallops and orange wedges. Grill over hot coals,
brushing with marinade, and turn once, until the shrimp turns pink and the
scallops are opaque, about 5 minutes
Aloha Salad
Ingredients:
1/3 cup of olive oil
1 package ramen noodles (shrimp flavored)
2 -3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup green scallions chopped
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 teaspoon pepper
1 head of cabbage shredded
1 teaspoon sesame seed oil
Directions:
Remove flavor packet from the ramen noodles. Leave the noodles in the package
and break them up into small pieces. Place noodles, almonds and sesame seeds
on a baking tray. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until
browned. Mix together oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, scallions and ramen
flavor packet with the cabbage. Add noodle mixture to dressing and pour over
cabbage.
Pineapple Boat
Ingredients:
1 ripe pineapple
Shredded coconut to taste
Selection of other fresh fruits such as:
Mangoes
Bananas
Strawberries
Oranges
Apples
Grapes
Kiwi
Directions:
Cut pineapple in half, lengthwise, leaving the crown attached. Cutting close
to the shell with a thin, sharp knife or a curved fruit knife, carefully
remove fruit. Cut away the center core strip. Cut pineapple and other
selected fruits into bite-size pieces. Mix all ingredients together and serve
in the pineapple shell. Serves: 8-10
Roasted Hog cake!
What You’ll Need:
2 packaged mixes (Try combining two different flavors for a marbled effect.)
2 16 oz. Containers of "pink" ready-made frosting
1 "board" for displaying the cake (foamcore or corrugated board covered with
aluminum foil or silver cracked ice, or a silver platter)
1 tube of pink writing gel or frosting, one to two shades darker than the
pink base frosting.
16 cup glass or metal bowl to use as a cake pan
1 Hostess™ Ding-Dong
1 red apple
1 pink pipe cleaner
Prepare the mix according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour both mixes
into a well-greased pan.
If you are using more than one flavor let them bleed together for a unique
effect. Bake the cake according to directions on the package, but add an
additional 10-15 minutes to the suggested time to bake. Because you are
baking 2 mixes at one time in a bowl shape, you will need to bake the cake
for longer than the directions indicate. Check your cake using a toothpick
inserted into the center, every 5-7 minutes after the initial baking time,
and add more time as needed. All ovens bake differently, so add extra baking
time in small increments. Allow cake to cool for 10-15 minutes. Trim the
cake while it is still in the bowl so that it will be level when inverted on
the cake board. Place cake on wire rack until completely cooled. Turn bowl
upside down and place on cake board. Frost entire cake with pink frosting.
Attach the Hostess Ding-Dong™ as the snout (using two toothpicks), and frost
with pink frosting. Add red apple to the pig's "mouth" under the snout. Using
pink writing gel, outline the snout, and add two dots for nose holes. Add
closed eyes and eyelashes, and also add the outline of "feet" to the sides of
the pig. Twist the pink pipe cleaner into a spiral, and add it to the back of
the cake as the roasted hog's tail. Add additional "props" such as colorful
leis or fresh or silk flowers around the cake to make this the perfect
centerpiece for your luau table!
If you are serving more people than can be accommodated by 2 boxed mixes
(24-28 people), we recommend that you simply bake extra cupcakes, or an extra
rectangular cake. All can just be frosted simply in matching pink frosting,
and cut and served behind the scenes.
Frosting Note:
In order to achieve a "bakery perfect" smoothness on your
cakes, use a standard recipe for buttercream frosting. This type of frosting
generally tastes quite sugary, and uses either lard or shortening to give it
a "stiffer" consistency. Not only is ready-made frosting easier…we think it
tastes creamier and less sugary. Try Pillsbury's™ Creamy Supreme™ frosting,
or even Cool Whip™. The photos of the cakes in our cake tips section are all
made with ready-made frosting. Hence, they are not bakery smooth, but were
all very tasty!
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