Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas and Games

These Hawaiian Luau Party ideas will have you vacationing in the islands without boarding a plane.

Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas

Hawaiian Party Ideas

Hawaiian Luau Invitations
Hawaiian Party Ideas and Decorations
Hawaiian Luau Party Games
Hawaiian Luau Party Favors
Island Themed Party: More Amazing Island Party Ideas!

Hawaiian Luau Invitations: Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas

So what's first on the party agenda? Fun invitations, of course. The creativity starts here. When guests open your party invitations they're in for a treat!

I love the Hawaiian Luau theme because there are so many great ideas for invitations. You can purchase some amazing invites like invitations in a bottle or lei invitations. You can also get really creative and make your own invitations.

If you want to make your own invites, use the bank of invitations below for inspiration. With just a few beach themed party favors like tiny shells, cocktail parasols, or hula dancer stir sticks you can dress up your handmade invites.

First, create invitations on your computer and print them on cardstock. My favorite way to dress up an invite is to punch holes in the corner and secure the party favor into the holes. This works better than hot glue because the tiny favor can be easily removed and used.

A great invite is a wonderful way to build excitement about your party.

Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas and Decorations

It's easy (and lots of fun) to decorate your backyard to reflect the Hawaiian Luau party theme.

Hang Tiki lanterns throughout the backyard. A few Tiki torches set throughout the yard also lends to the Hawaiian ambience, and deters the insects.

If you have the budget, you can create an authentic feel by renting small palm trees from your local plant nursery.

Want to create an authentic island look? Make a Tiki bar or purchase a Tiki bar kit. (I've found saves money in the long run).

The island look can also be created by covering your patio umbrella with grass or palm leaf skirting.

You'll practically hear the ocean breeze when you add these island touches!

One more great decorating touch: theme signs. You can create them yourself from brown coorigated cardboard for the look of old wooden signs.

Signs can also be purchased with beach themed sayings. They're really cute and definately add to beach feel! And, if you're celebrating a special occassion, like a birthday party, have customized Hawaiian banner made.

You already know that a great Luau party needs great decorations. You can get Luau party decorations from many local stores. But, if you want to save time and gas, consider ordering your themed party supplies online (I do). That way you get what you really want and don't settle for whatever the store has. Plus, you can get really great deals at the click of a button.

Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas: Music

Now the decorations are set...but what kind a music do you play at a Hawaiian themed party? Mix in a little traditional Hawaiian music with your usual party music mix. Or, hire a slack key steel guitar player if you really want to be authentic!

Some very popular Hawaiian slack key musicians that you may want to include in your party music mix are: Daniel Ho, Sonny Lim, George Kahumoku, Dennis Kamakahi, and Jeff Peterson.

Hawaiian Luau Food Ideas

Set up a buffet table with a colorful table cloth; Caribbean blue, or pineapple yellow would be nice. Use grass skirts to dress up the edges of the tables and to extend the table cloth to the ground.

To really pull off the Hawaiian Luau party theme, follow the photos in this tutorial to create pineapple centerpiece.

When planning your Luau party recipes, think coconut and pineapple. Here are some of my favorite Hawaiian inspired dishes:

Grilled Pinapple Wrapped With Bacon
Spiral Ham With Pineapple and Brown Sugar Glaze
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Coconut Cup Cakes
Coconut Rice
Grilled Fish
Blue Hawaiian Drinks and Pina Coladas

Hawaiian Leis
Are the Perfect
Party Favor

Hawaiian Luau Party Favors

The number one 'must have' party favor at any Hawaiian Luau: a Hawaiian Lei!

When guests arrive, greet them with a Hawaiian lei made of flowers to complete the island vacation effect!

If you're crafty you can even make a real Hawaiian lei for your guest of honor. To do this, simply remove the flowers from a branch of Phalaenopsis Orchid and sew the individual flowers together using string and a large needle.

Don't worry, Phalaenopsis are fairly inexpensive orchids that are pretty common at florists and even nice grocery floral departments.

At my local wholesale floral shop (which is open to the public) five branch costs under $10. One branch may yield ten flowers.

Other really special party favors included parasol straws and cocktail umbrellas. These little touches really dress up any frozen drink and make you feel like you're really at the beach!

Did you know?...
You can even enjoy Hawaiian Luau party ideas during the winter holidays for a "vacation" from the cold weather. Read how one visitor had a luau theme for her Christmas party on the Hawaiian Christmas Party page.

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