Luau Party Planning Guide

Luau party supplies can be found at most party stores and on the Internet. But if you don’t find what you need here, you can look around flea markets and curio stores to find tropical motifs.

For planning and decorating, you will need to buy invitation cards (if you are not making your own), placement cards, straws, Hawaiian music, leis, candles. Tiki torches, Hula dolls, paper lanterns, large candles, bamboo baskets, plastic flowers and fresh flowers will give an authentic atmosphere. You can buy shells, fruits, sunglasses, decorative hair combs, fruit and large stuffed parrots and flamingos too. For costumes, think about using coconut shells to make bras and straw to make skirts. It is fun to get the guys wear these to and do the Hula!

Most gift shops stock Luau decorations, invitations, tableware, Hawaiian gifts, and more. Plates and glasses with tropical patterns and color will add to the ambience. Tropical straws, stirrers and tiny umbrellas to dress up your glasses, and plastic flowers to decorate the room are all easy to find if one starts hunting for them early enough.

When should you have a Luau party? Well, they’re ideal to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, baby showers, weddings or any other occasion that calls for fun! Luau parties are traditional Hawaiian feasts, characterized by the use of colorful flowers, tropical fruits, Luau food, funky clothes, foot-tapping island music and lively Hula dancing. Generally held outdoors, Luaus can also work indoors with the right ambience and props.

The good thing about a Luau is that it need not be expensive. It’s fine to ask your guests to bring along some of their own cooking. In fact this makes it even more cozy and fun!

Your guests will have to be told beforehand what they should wear. Most people have something tropical in their wardrobes and if not, it’s easy to put something together in a jiffy. If nothing else, a colorful lei on a plain white shirt works best. Men can wear shorts and sandals and women can wear flowers in their hair.

Whatever the occasion, Luau parties will bring an exotic flavor of island life to your homes.