A luau is a feast and a party all in one.
Children absorb knowledge about other cultures and places through their senses. Whether you are planning a school party or one at home, use the traditions of a luau to give preschoolers an idea of what it must be like to live in Hawaii. Foods, costumes and activities can all be made hands-on, to let children learn while enjoying themselves. "Aloha nui nui" is what your guests will say. Does this Spark an idea?
Getting Ready
Before the party or at its beginning, you can use paper bags and yarn or crepe paper and yarn to construct simple grass skirts (see references), leis and flower wreaths for the hair. It will help if you have some magazine pictures or posters showing both Hawaii scenery and Hawaiians wearing the items you are making. If grass skirts seem unappealing (your party guests are all little boys, for example), have white T-shirts, fabric paint and foam stamps cut like palm trees and surf boards; hang stamped T-shirts on a clothes line during the party, so they're dry enough to take home, dude.
Food
Preschoolers are notoriously conservative eaters, so approach Hawaii in small steps. Skewers of pineapple, banana and mango let them taste without taking large quantities of a new food. Grilled hot dogs honor the role pork plays in Hawaiian cuisine (if your children are fond of it, substitute Spam for hot dogs; Hawaii leads the U.S. in Spam consumption). Include snow or snap peas in a plate of veggies for dipping, to note the Asian influences on Hawaiian cuisine. To go all out, ask your florist about the availability of banana leaves to spread on your table, as both a tablecloth and and plates, Hawaiian-style. Eat outside, if possible.
Reading Activity
Check your library or local bookstore for children's books about Hawaii. Older guests might not sit still, but preschoolers regard reading a story as a perfectly logical party activity. Tammy Yee writes a wide range of children's books about Hawaii, including an alphabet that lets children hear a few Hawaiian words. Even a book of photos lets you explain some features of Hawaii--volcanos, hula, canoes, surfing, whales and turtles--in a bit of context.
Hula and Surfing
Put on Hawaiian music and show children a few hula moves--yes, you can! The thunderous, rapid hip-shaking hula sometimes featured on TV commercials is actually Tahitian. The Hawaiian hula is slower and tells a story with the hands. Practice hand gestures with a song, until you can teach the motions to children. Let them sing and wave along, then try to add stepping and swaying from side to side--not as easy as it looks. For surfing fans, set up a balance beam no more than 4 inches wide. Let would-be dudes show off their moves to music, one foot in front of the other. One idea for a balance beam: Collapse your folding ironing board, cover it with a tropical print remnant and let the wave-riding begin.
Water Play
What attracts waves of tourists to Hawaii is a unique blend of weather and water. If possible, take your school's water- or sand-table outside or set up a wading pool in your yard. Make bathing suits the dress of the day and add the hose as a fountain. Have a silly dress-up race--a coconut-fiber hat, lei, swim mask and fins--and set the race course under the sprinkler. Take children to the local sprinkler park and bring refreshments as a picnic. A luau is a feast and a party.
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