Hawaiian Luau
The next best thing to a vacation in Maui or Honolulu is a Hawaiian Luau party. Your guests who have visited the islands can reminisce while others can escape for the moment and experience first hand the excitement of being in paradise. No wonder this is the most popular party theme.
Invitations
- Construct a “passport” or plane ticket. Insert party details where all of the destination, departure and demographic information would be.
- Get Hawaiian travel brochures from a local travel agent and attach your invitation.
Attire
- Encourage guest to wear sarongs, coconut shell tops and Hawaiian shirts.
- Hand out leis (real or fake) as guests arrive.
Decorations
- Hang fishnets from the wall and/or ceiling.
- Make a “doorway” by hanging a shell curtain. You can usually purchase this at a party goods store.
- For a centerpiece, purchase live or silk tropical flowers. Arrange in vase and surround with sand and sea shells.
- Tablecloths can be in an array of solid, bright colors, a floral or “Hawaiian” print, or both.
- Purchase or borrow Tiki statues and Hawaiian masks.
- Wrap the edge of the buffet table with hula skirts.
- Tiki torches add a Polynesian ambiance.
Activities
- Play Hawaiian music during the party.
- Hire a hula instructor to give lessons, or have a hula contest. You can often find an instructor at your local community center or junior college.
- Just a few games are needed. The atmosphere, food, and guests will all blend nicely, without much help.
Food
- Grilled/roasted pork and/or fish served with teriyaki or bar-b-que sauce.
- Chicken is also suggested. It can be baked of grilled with lemon and teriyaki sauce. Add cilantro for a nice twist.
- Salads are the perfect compliment to a Luau meal. The following are suggestions but be as creative as you like or simply add bowls of island fruit to your Luau buffet table:
- Mix spring salad greens with nuts, such as walnuts, pecans or almonds and island fruit such as papaya, mango, strawberries, star fruit and kiwis. Serve with fruit (mango, raspberry, passion fruit, etc.) vinaigrette. You can make a great one by purchasing basic wine vinaigrette and mixing it with a pureed fruit of your choice.
- Roughly chop cucumber and Roma tomatoes. Add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, mix together. Add coarse ground black pepper and salt to taste. Mix again and refrigerate for two hours before serving.
- Desserts may include salt-water taffy, Jell-O with bites of fruit (tangerine, mandarin orange slices or canned pineapple chunks), lemon cake, pineapple- upside down cake or the following Hawaiian fruit salad:
- Combine 1 cup pineapple tidbits (drained), 1 cup shredded coconut and 1 cup sour cream. Add 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows. Let chill in the refrigerator overnight. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg just before serving.
- Beverages should include alcoholic (Mai-Tais and Blue Hawaiians) as well as non-alcoholic drinks. For a volcanic punch, mix ginger ale with your favorite flavored sherbet in a punch bowl.
Party Tip: Decorate drinks with chunks of fruit skewed by colored toothpicks or cocktail umbrellas.
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