Making You Own Tropical Luau Decorations...
Do -it-yourself party decorations are possible with large 
sheets of colored butcher paper, appliance boxes , poster paints and some creativity. Transform a refrigerator box into tropical scene using poster paint. A few palm trees, sand 
and ocean will do. Cover you table with green butcher paper and fray the edges to resemble a grass skirt. Mount a few travel posters on the walls and hang garlands of homemade tissue flowers (tied along green ribbon). Set the mood with Hawaiian music or the Beach Boys playing in the background.
Voila - it's paradise!
Extras:
For young girls, make a tropical scene centerpiece scene a with Beach Barbie and Ken in swim suits is very cute.
Do you have access to a Surf Board ?
Place it by the front door with a sign announcing the birthday
or other special event. Go all out with sand, toy crabs and 
fish by the front door and party area. 

LUAU PARTY GAMES & ACTIVITIES
Hosting a successful party takes more than the perfect decorations and tableware. Providing games and activities
will ensure a you have a memorable event! 

Hula Dancing - Hula Dance lesson are quite popular with 
kids and teens. Hire a local instructor to come for a brief lesson. You'll be surprised how reasonable the cost is!

"Hot Coconut"
Play as you would "hot potato", using a whole coconut.
Pass the coconut around the circle from person to person 
quickly, while music is playing. When the music stops, 
the person holding the coconut sits in the middle or controls the music for one round.

Tropical Relay Race
Divide the group into two teams
Equipment: Two Grass skirts, 2 pairs of Bermuda shorts, 
2 pairs of sunglasses 2 Straw Hats ,2 lei necklaces,2 Beach bags, 2 Beach chairs
Each team lines up in a row. Place chairs a reasonable running distance in front of each team or any distance your space will allow. The objects listed above are placed into the beach bags and located with each team. The first players on each team, put on ALL of the items, run to the chair, return to their team, remove the items and pass the bag to the next player. The next players continue until the entire team has 
had a turn.

Bobbing for Seashells
Fill a large plastic tub with water. Purchase floating items; plastic fish, shells, pineapples, flip-flops... 
Before the party use a permanent marker to write either a 1,2,or 3 on each item. they will be placed in the water at game time. Make three prize bags filled with candy bars, gum, or other inexpensive items. Write 1, 2, or 3 on each bag.
Players hold their hands behind their backs and use their teeth to grab an item. They then collect a prize from the bag that matches the # on the item they caught.
Kit's Tip: This game can be played with any age group,
using simple variations on the same principle.

HAWAIIAN LUAU PARTY CRAFTS
If your party includes children it is always a good idea to have a craft or two available for entertainment.
Tissue Flowers - remember the flowers you made as child.
Kids still enjoy making them today!
Materials needed for one flower: 
4 sheets of 6"X6" tissue paper (multi color), 1 pipe cleaner
How to make a Tissue Flower: 
1. Stack 4 pieces of tissue paper together. "Fan fold" the tissue paper using 1" folds. Fold back and forth until you have about a 1" X 6" piece. Cut both ends of your tissue strip to round the corners. Squeeze the tissue paper in the middle and twist the piper cleaner tightly to secure. Make a fan on both sides of the pipe cleaner. Gently pull up each of the four layers of tissue to make the flower petals. 

Lei Necklaces - 
You'll need: yarn, drinking straws and colored paper.
Before the party, cut 1" pieces from drinking straws and flowers from colored paper. Make a hole in the center of each flower using a hole punch. The children will bead their lei's alternating straws and flowers until it is the desired length.
Tip: Wrap a piece of tape around the end of the yarn for 
easy beading.

Sand painting
Sand scenes can be created with construction paper, 
colored sand, and white school glue. Use the glue to make trees, water, beach etc. Pour the sand using the desired 
colors for each item. Remember to make each item one at 
a time, or all of the colors will mix. For example, if you want 
a green tree with a brown trunk...make the tree top with glue, then sprinkle on green sand. Follow with the tree trunk using the brown sand and so on...

Fruit Smoothies - The children will work together to make their own tropical drink. Suggested ingredients:
Mango juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, frozen banana pieces, frozen strawberries, mango pieces, pineapple, papaya, coconut...Place the items into a blender with ice and mix.  Top with whipped cream, cherry and a paper umbrella.

Sand Art Vases
You'll need: empty glass jars and colored sand (craft store), artificial flower. Fill the jars with sand one colored layer at 
a time. Then insert the artificial flower.

LUAU PARTY FAVORS
Say "Thank You" to your guests with party favors to 
take home. Fill beachcomber hats with toys, flowers leis, 
a bottle of tropical punch and some candy.