Use pictures, posters, drawings and music to create an island atmosphere for your luau.
A luau-themed birthday party works year-round because it can get you in the mood for summer or warm you up during the winter. Plan out the details of your child's luau birthday party to ensure you have all of the basics covered and supplies you'll need. Tie the luau theme into every possible element of the party. Does this Spark an idea?
Supplies
Assemble a list of all of the supplies you'll need to make your child's luau birthday party a hit. You'll need invitations and decorations that fit into your tropical theme. Exotic fruit and food choices would complement the theme, as well. Remember to gather all of the items you'll need for any games, crafts or activities as well as party favors to thank your guests. Buy or download some island-inspired music to play for games or in the background during the party.
Invitations
Make or buy invitations that fit into your theme. Seashells, tropical fish, coconuts, pineapples, flip-flops, palm trees or sandcastle-shaped invitations lend to the tropical feel of the luau. Write or type the message on aged paper, roll it up and insert it in a bottle for a message-in-a-bottle invitation. You can also make passports or plane tickets for your guests to visit your small piece of paradise.
Decorations
Decorate your yard or the room where the party will be held. Make palm trees out of construction paper or use the inflatable variety. Coconuts, pineapples and other exotic fruit can serve as decorations as well as snacks. Hang flowers or leis throughout the party space. Use tiki torches or string colorful lights for a nighttime party.
Activities
Make leis or grass skirts to keep with the tropical theme. Provide a sandbox and toys for younger children or a pool or sprinkler for older children. Bubbles, tag and other games can be arranged outside, if possible. Put an island twist on traditional games, such as passing a coconut or pineapple for "hot potato." Play a hula instructional video and let the kids learn a hula dance.
Food
Serve traditional luau food, such as a roasted pig, pineapples, coconuts, shrimp, fish or any other island foods. For a simpler version, serve Hawaiian pizzas with ham or bacon and pineapple. It's OK, too, to serve traditional birthday foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers. Have at least one coconut on hand to let the kids taste the its milk and meat.
Cake
Create a lava cake by stacking cakes into a volcano-shape and covering them with chocolate (or dark) frosting. Just before serving the cake, warm up pudding or red-colored frosting (add food coloring to vanilla frosting) and pour it around the cake to look like lava. Add sparklers instead of candles to complete the effect. Sandcastle-shaped or a pineapple upside-down cakes are other options.
Favors
Give guests a tropical-inspired favor to thank them for attending. Flip-flops, sunglasses, beach towels or leis are bigger items that work well. For a girl's slumber party, include glittery nail polish, little makeup kits, lip balm or other age-appropriate items. For boys, add toy ships or pirate-related items.
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