Luau Party Planning Guide

Luaus are one of our favorite parties here at Party411.com--they are colorful and fun, and the food is fabulous (what more is there to a luau, except cool tropical drinks?). So, if you ask me, I think planning a luau is a great way to have a party. Limbo on down the page and check it out...

Hawaiian Luau Party Invitation
Make a flier or buy a luau invitation at your local party/stationery store, but instead of sending it alone, prove you're creative and include a flower hair comb for the ladies and a flower wrist bracelet for the men. Tell them they must wear the enclosed pieces on their bodies somewhere, and that you want them to dress luau-creative. That will get them talking long before the party!

As always a perfect choice is a personalized luau invitation made by your friends at Party411.com. New this year are these great semi-custom caricature invitations. Using art that has already been drawn, we can add a photo face or a caricature face and personalize the message for you! You can use the semi-custom caricature as the design for other fun elements in your Hawaiian luau, including centerpieces, a welcome sign, thank you notes, and much more!

Luau Party Decorations and Party Supplies
For a great selection of luau party decorations and party supplies visit Luau Decorating411. Below you will find plenty of ideas on how to use these great luau or beach party decorations.

Outside Entrance
Make it easy for people to spot your house with hula girl balloon signs. To make a grand entrance, place inflatable palm trees outside your door as the first indication to your guests that this is going to be the luau to remember. You may even want to adorn your porch rail or doorway with an inflatable parrot and/or luau lights for a festive effect. Add a CD player with island music to create the perfect atmosphere. If you are really adventurous and can stand the ridicule and neighbor gossip, use pink flamingos to adorn your front yard or line them up the driveway or front sidewalk. There are some flamingos available now that are different and a lot of fun. Or think about using Tiki balloon lawn signs or even a luau custom banner to welcome your guests. There are hundreds more luau decorating ideas. Visit Luau Decorating411 to see more options.

Scene Setters
Scene setters make great decorations for your party. There’s a tropical scene setter, a bamboo scene setter, Tiki pole scene setter, and much more. These things are great and given how big they are they add real value. Or you can do things yourself. Use netting as your backdrop. Have a big basket of multi-color leis (colorful neon leis, white orchid leis, silk flower leis, rainbow silk flower leis) inside the door where people can help themselves to a few. I would plan on 5 or 6 per person so that they can be creative and festive with their leis. If you think you have the time, stand at the door and greet everyone with a lei--this is always a nice gesture and a traditional way of saying aloha. If you are really talented, have a ukulele on hand to serenade your guests as they enter. Maybe put a note on the basket urging them to wear them wherever they please. This will make for fun photo opportunities (you can send them later as a thank you for attending the party).

Don't forget a life-size custom luau cutout of you (or your friends!) with a speech bubble welcoming your guests to the party.

Backyard

The backyard is just as fun to decorate as the rest of the house, so don't neglect this space if weather permits or if you plan to expand the party outside. Paper lanterns might be a nice touch, whether inside or in the back yard. An inflatable Tiki pole goes well with tribal masks to create the mood. Hang wind chimes and wooden parrots to give a complete background to your setting. Shells, sand and perhaps a mini-pool is order here as well. If you really want to go crazy, place metallic palm trees and wooden totem poles around the yard/patio. Candle votives are a must, but don't forget the citronella candles.

If you are having a big party and serving cocktails in the back yard think about creating a Tiki pavilion. It’s not cheap but it will be the focal point of your party.

For even more great Luau decorating ideas visit Luau Decorating411
Luau Party Music, Luau Party Games and Luau Party Activities
Luau Party Music. Good luau music not only sets the mood but you learn to do the Hula or the Limbo.

Luau Party Games and Luau Party Activities. The Game Girl has the “rules” for Limbo, Mai Tai Limbo, The Tacky Tourist Relay and the Hula Hoop Spin Off. Just visit our luau game page. Or there is always fun to be had with a piñata.

Seating Cards or Name Tags

If you are assigning seats or if you want to give out nametags (and this is wise when you have a lot of friends that don't know each other), here's a thought: thongs. You know, the rubber kind you wear on your feet with a flower in the center? They make for a great nametag or seating card. Just write the name in magic marker, add a 25¢ chain or ribbon (necklace) and voila--a humorous way to get people talking about your creativity and their thongs. Line them up alphabetically on a table near the entrance.

Another thought on this is to use starfish or sand dollars and write the name of the person on it. For name tags, string some ribbon around it.

Luau Paper Goods and Table Decorations
Use a raffia table skirt around the buffet table to bring Hawaii right inside your home. Or use a light up luau table skirt for a stunning nighttime effect! Use a green plastic or linen tablecloth over the buffet and pin the skirting to the edges. Add fabulous tropical Mylar balloons (all you need is some helium) in the shape of fish, monkeys and other related characters, so buffets can be seen from anywhere at the party. Use beachcomber hats (multi-color or plain) upside down to hold different snacks and munchies. Throw a mixture of fabulous foil-wrapped chocolate fish and tropical bird/palm tree confetti across your table. Your guests will really WOW at your thoughtfulness and carry-through. Provide tropical toothpicks as a final touch. Use baskets on each buffet to hold luncheon napkins, Tiki Island plates, cutlery and cups. You may even want to get matching guest towels for your powder room!

Other ideas include adding some silk flower lights, luau salt and pepper shakers, and hula girl taper candles (or pineapple candles). Don't forget to add confetti and more foil wrapped chocolate fish. Make sure to use tropical colors for your tablecloths--yellow, green, hot pink, melon, orange and bright blue. Add your own seashells, maracas and sand. Another great ideas is to use piñatas as your centerpieces or if you prefer, hang them above the tables. Another option is this coral reef centerpiece. I always use a tropical food cover to protect the food.

For tropical themed paper products, cutlery and cups choose from a great selection of designs including Tiki, Jungle Paradise, Tropical Cool, Coral Reef, Tropical Sun and Flamingo.

Bar

The first drink should be served complete with tropical straws and cocktail umbrellas . You may want to add some hula girl candles to create some atmosphere--and you may want to add some tropical lights around the bar as well. The bar is a good place to put your coconut band. Don't forget the all-important pineapples cups, whether plastic or made from real pineapples (how dedicated do you want to be to making this as authentic as possible for your guests?)

There are some new products out you may not have seen before including luau shot glasses, neon Tiki cups, and even a palm tree cup. If you have really thirsty guests think about serving those cool tropical drinks in these party yards.

Dress Up Your Guests

A big part of any luau is letting your guests dress up. You have plenty of costumes and accessories to choose from including leis, hula skirts, shell bikini tops, and even coconut tops. (My buddy John puts on this coconut top at every luau and beach party and we laugh every single time.) Top it off with a “Carmen Miranda” hat and you are there! Of course you can always go with a full costume. Buy Costumes has some real fun costumes, including an Aloha Gorilla Suit or the ever popular Hawaiian shirt and shorts.

Luau Party Favors

Fish squirts (little rubber fish that you fill with water, squeeze and squirt) are great fun if the party is outside. Another idea is to send guests home with their own plastic tropical beverage glasses. These are very cute and can be found in house wares stores.

Of course we think great luau party favors a a personalized luau candy bar wrapper from or personalized mint tin Party411’s Creations for You!

Last but not least

Fill the room with balloons in tropical colors (great as centerpieces tied off a "real" pineapple), flowers and you'll have a party to remember. Oh, and one last thing--don't forget to do the limbo! All you need is an official limbo kit (two poles and a limbo stick! Why not decorate them with lights, too?)