What images does a Hawaiian Luau Party bring to mind? Waves crashing on a white sand beach, coconut trees, suntan girl in a hula skirt? Yes, but if getting away to some Hawaiian-like paradise for a Luau party isn’t possible, how about bringing a Hawaiian luau to the backyard?
What is a Hawaiian Luau Party?
In Hawaii, a Luau is a feast. Actual Hawaiian Luau parties include pig, poi, salmon, beer and of course, music and hula. Luaus on the mainland use authentic Hawaii traditions, but include other tropical influences. The goal is to create an escape filled with tropical ambiance and a party atmosphere. A Luau party works great for a birthday party, graduation party or even a backyard wedding!
Luau Party Planning
Center the Luau around the pool, on a lush green lawn, or on a patio. Create a relaxing atmosphere that invites guests to kick off their flip flops and grab a Mai Tai. Provide guests relaxed seating, ambient lighting, good food and Pacific Island music. And make sure those pesky mosquitoes don't show up! Ask that everyone dress in their best Luau attire!
It's fun to greet guests Aloha style, with a lei or a seashell. Leis can be purchased at party stores or online. For a more personal touch use a Luau kit from a site such as Hawaii Flower Lei, or by stringing flower petals from the garden on dental floss, ending up with about 36” of strung flower petals.
Create a Lush Tropical Luau Party
A backyard luau takes advantage of nature’s spectrum of colors. Hawaiian Island ambiance can be added to the current landscape, with tropical foliage and flowers, either real or silk. Discount Silk plants can be purchased and blended in with real plants to create that dense paradise feel. Use any plant resembling the tropics, such as:
- Asparagus ferns
- Pothos
- Heart’s tongue fern
- Split leaf philodendron
- Banana plants.
- Calla Lilies
- Dieffenbachia
- Bird of Paradise
- Vines
Be sure to have some loose flowers available for identifying guests as “single” or “taken”. If not romantically involved, the flower goes behind the right ear.
Luau Party Decorating Ideas
Luau decorating is fun, and there are oodles of Luau party ideas available. Think Gilligan's Island meets Miami Vice!
Turn off the outdoor flood lights, and set a relaxing mood with string lights, tiki torches and candles. Retailers and online stores, such as Seasonal Reflections, offer string lights designed as surf boards, parrots, beach balls, flip flops, etc. Stake tiki torches throughout the yard add floating candles to the pool. Instant ambiance!
Tables can be covered with Island designed tablecloths, tropical sheets, or beach towels, winding silk vines around food serving pieces.
- Cover the serving table with fish netting and scatter sea shells, stars and sea horses around net.
- Use uncut pineapples and coconuts on serving table as décor.
- Sprinkle flowers and tropical leaves on each tabletop. Loose flower petals can be ordered online at Wpetals.com.
- Fill vases and jars with sand and sea shells and place a candle in the center.
- Sarongs and straw beach mats can be used as inexpensive table toppers. Beachtrading.com has mats that open to 73” x 36” for $4.95, and 62"x44" sarongs for $8.95.
- Drape hula skirts around the table or hang on the wall near the serving station.
- Scatter addtional island décor around the party, such as Tiki carvings, paper mache parrots on perches, and colorful fish.
- Bring personal items from the garage that are in theme; that old ukulele, surfboard, beach chairs and straw hats.
Luau Party Food:
Coconut shrimp is a big hit for appetizers, and guest will love snacking on macadamia nuts in between limbo contests. Barbequed pork with grilled sweet potatoes, teriyaki chicken with grilled pineapple slices or skewered shish-ke-bobs over rice work great as luau party food. Fruit salad with pineapple, kiwi, and mango and pineapple upside-down cake will appeal to guests with a sweet tooth. Mai Tais and Pina Coladas topped with a paper umbrella add that final luau touch!
Party goods don't need to break the bank for a Luau. Tropical-inspired serving pieces, plates and napkins can be found everywhere. Shop the dollar stores, discount marts, and retailer markdown aisles first. Save money by mixing bright colors and designs found on sale. Colorful bamboo paper plate holders support those full plates!
Hawaiian Music for a Luau Party
Every Luau needs Island music! Have a ukulele jam session and put on a mix of surf-crashing music, such as:
- Don Ho - Tiny Bubbles
- Elvis – Blue Hawaii
- Ledward Kaapana – Black Sand
- Any artist playing Slack Key Guitar
- Jimmy Buffet or Beach Boys
Now hit the play button! With the mood set, ambient lighting overhead, barbeque on the grill and slack key guitar or ukulele drifting from the speakers, watch as guests slip away mentally to some Hawaiian island right in your own backyard!
Resources:
- Hawaii Flower Lei website
Jan Peterson - I'm a retired banker, published songwriter, cyber journalist, and member of the advisory board for the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall ...
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