Hawaiian Party Ideas
Are you looking for more than just Hawaiian Shirts and Hula Skirts.. Our Parties In Package party guide is provided to help you "create and atmosphere" at your party. As the party host, it will be your job to co-ordinate the events leading up to the big day, and to also make sure things run smoothly on the day. Your objective or mission is to throw a fun and exciting party that holds special memories for all that attend.
There's a few important decisions to be made before inviting guests.
Date - It's a good idea to check the proposed date and time with 'key' friends before committin.
Time - It is important to state a starting time on the invitations. You may also wish to state a finishing time, especially if the event is held at a hired venue.
Location - You have a couple of basic choices with the most popular being 'home' where you'll have plenty of time to set up and have all your supplies close at hand. The obvious disadvantages are cleaning the house before and after the party, possible damage, and space limitations.
You have to enjoy the party too! The golden rule for the party host is, don't try and do everything on your own. Arrange for friends to help with the food and serving at the party. Alternatively you may choose to hire wait staff or have the whole event catered, allowing you to enjoy the celebration as much as everyone else.
The Invites
Whether you're emailing a e-Invite, or hanging out/posting paper Invitations make sure it's designed in the same theme of your party.
You could attach your Invitation to a Flower Lei, asking guests to wear it along with their best 'Island Vibes' outfit to start guests talking even before they arrive.
If your Invitation has envelopes then sprinkle some silk flower petals or Tropical Scatter into the envelope for a bit of fun.
Remember to include on the invitation anything you may wish the guests to provide such as alcohol. If you plan on providing alcohol, make sure to add a footnote that guests should arrange alternative transport home, rather than drive.
The Ambience
Choosing an outdoor location with a lot of greenery and sand is preferable for a Hawaiian Luau. The most effective economical way to decorate the party area is by using beach towels as table covers, umbrellas, old fishing nets, hammocks. Decorate the food tables with pineapples, coconuts, watermelons and other fruits around the table to create a tropical theme. Then hang hula skirts around the edges of the tables. If your outdoor area is lacking greenery you could hire palm trees or use Inflatable Palm Trees. If your budget allows you could have sand delivered to the location for a great effect.
If your budget doesn't allow for Hula Skirts and/or Leis for each guest, then dress up your helper friends or wait staff. Advise partygoers to attend in traditional attire such as Hawaiian shirts and shorts, sarongs & bikini tops and flip flops. As each guest arrives have the costumed staff at the front door with a welcome cocktail.
The Entertainment
Party games are a great way for guests to get to know each other better and get everyone into the party spirit. Everyone should remember the Limbo, providing loads of laughs for all. Hula Hoops are also entertaining and you could have group competitions to see who can swivel their hoop for the longest.
To bring out the adventurous side in your guests you could Hire a Mechanical Surf Rider, which is a fantastic simulation of real surfing.
What's a Luau without a Hawaiian music. Make sure your downloaded playlist includes the Hawaii Five-O Theme Song, Aloha Oe by Johnny Cash & Blue Hawaii by Elvis Presley.
If you hire a themed band make sure it includes hula dancer/s. Not only will you be supplied with great songs all night but your guests can learn how to hula from the experts, creating it's own entertainment for everyone watching..
Food & Drinks
What better way to celebrate a Luau than with a spit roast or Hungi. Search Yellow Pages or Google for companies operating spit roasts in your area. Or you could make your own Hungi at home.
The easiest Dessert is fruit. Serve it on platters, as kebabs, in carved out watermelons and pinapples. You can display fruit as Palm Trees on a Beach. For a sweet touch turn donuts into pineapples, using green cardboard and scissors.
The most authentic way to serve drinks is in carved out pineapples, coconuts and watermelons. A less time consuming substitute is to purchase plastic coconut cups, palm tree cups, pineapple cups and flamingo cups. Bowls of punch is another option suitable for this party theme.
Make sure drinks are decorated with straws, drink umbrellas and cocktail animals, plus lots of fruit. You could set up a DIY section for guests to have fun decorating their own drinks..
The Party Check-List
* Pick party date and time
* Purchase your Themed Invitations and Decorations
* Decide on the entertainment
* Plan a menu and go shopping
* Arrange for help on the party day
* Get an exact guest count
* Write out Final Schedule for day of the party
* Purchase final party supplies if necessary, party food, ice & other incidentals
* Charge the camera or phone
Lastly, remember that mishaps may occur so keep your sense of humour, even if not every aspect of the party goes off as planned. The most important part is to relax, take a breath and try to enjoy the party as much as your guests.
