Greet each guest with a big smile and a lei.
Hawaiian-themed parties are perennially popular because they are cheaper than a vacation to Hawaii--unless you already live there--and because the possibilities for food, decor and activities are exotic and appealing. Whether your Hawaii theme party is intended to celebrate a graduation, a birthday, or no occasion in particular, you can pull together a fun party that will make your guests say "Aloha." Does this Spark an idea?
Ticket Invitations
Send party invitations shaped and designed to look like airline tickets or plane boarding passes to Hawaii. Include the date, time and location of the party along with text that spells out the occasion and some of the features that guests have to expect. For example, you could write, "Aloha! You are invited to fly away for an afternoon of Hawaiian fun to celebrate Kathleen's high school graduation. The luau will feature a hula dancing lesson and a traditional pig roast. We hope to see you there!"
Luau Feast
Set up tags showing the name of each dish.
Indulge in a Hawaiian-style feast utilizing ingredients like pork, pineapple, mango, guava, taro root and vanilla. The article "Easy Luau Party" on the website "Sunset.com" suggests a "finger food" spread with dishes such as coconut lime shrimp skewers, papaya and avocado salad with Hawaiian vanilla vinaigrette, caramelized Maui onion dip, and chocolate liliko'i parfaits. "Liliko'i" is the mellifluous Hawaiian term for the fruit commonly called "passion fruit."
Hula Dancers
Hire a professional hula dancer or troupe of hula dancers to come to the party venue and perform a traditional Hawaiian dance. Request that one of the dancers speak before the performance about the cultural significance of the dance. You may be able to book a combination performance and lesson so party guests can challenge their coordination with basic hula moves. Alternately, if hula dancers aren't an option due to budget or availability, follow the suggestion of the Celebrations.com article "Vintage Hawaiian Bridal Shower" and hold a hula contest wherein guests improvise hula-style dances to a Hawaiian song. The article suggests "Tiny Bubbles" or "Blue Hawaii" for the competition song and advises that onlookers vote "by secret ballot" to determine the winner.
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