Planning a Luau Party at Home

A luau is basically a Hawaiian feast to celebrate special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or anything happy and fun. Think of it as a good old Texas BBQ, Hawaii style. Luaus are usually held outdoors but it is too cold, too wet, too hot, or too whatever, you can always have it indoor. The main thing is for everyone to enjoy the food, the company, and the atmosphere. Throwing a successful home luau can be easy and fun if you just follow a few simple steps.

Luau Fundamentals
The 3 things to keep in mind when throwing your luau are: 1) attire, 2) atmosphere, and 3) food. If you plan your party with those things in mind, you should be in good shape. The easiest way to add festive color and visual energy to your party is to have everyone wear a Hawaiian shirt or dress. Add an special Hawaiian flare with a few simple decorations and props like grass table skirts, colorful napkins, wall decor, and tropical props. Ultimately, if you want your party to kick ass, you must have the food. If you do even a half decent job at all 3 areas, your party will be a success. If you just dominate in all 3 areas, there’s a pretty good chance your luau will be epic.

ALOHA ATTIRE

Hawaiian Clothing
The funnest way to give your luau a Hawaiian feel is to have all your guests wear their favorite Hawaiian shirt or dress, which are easy to get online. Luaus are not really high-class dining, so as a rule of thumb, the bolder and louder the print, the better.

Leis
Giving leis (even cheap ones) to your guests at your party is a nice touch. In Hawaii, leis are usually given to guests of honor. If everyone is wearing a lei, then the guests of honor should have better leis. But for the sake of a house party with your friends, cheap is good.

Flowers
If you have flowers, especially fresh tropical flowers, have you guests wear them behind their ear. Traditionally, single women should wear the flower behind their right ear. If a woman is taken, she should wear it behind the left wear. Kinda like being married.

CREATE A LUAU ATMOSPHERE

Music
Play Hawaiian music, traditional or novelty, to put your guests into a fun frame of mind. If you are hardcore, hire a live Hawaiian band. If not, just download a bunch of songs from iTunes or Amazon.com. It’s amazing how much music can affect people’s moods, even when they aren’t listening.

Props
Simple decorations can go a long way in giving your party an exotic ambiance. Decorate your tables with real or fake flowers, coconut candles, and whatever you can think of. Tiki torches are another eye catching prop, especially if you light them at night for outdoor parties. Your local party store should have a bunch of tropical decorations and props.

Paper Goods
Another easy way to add tropical flare to your party is to use plates, cups, and napkins with tropical designs. We like paper goods because it makes the cleanup after that party so much faster. If you don’t have access to tropical paper goods, then go with an assortment of bright solid color items.

SOME PARTY TIPS

Party Invitations
Send invitations to your guest list on island themed cards.  If you send your invitations by email, use tropical clipart. Be sure to ask your guests to wear their loudest or favorite Hawaiian wear.

Hawaiian Names
If you need to make name tags for your guests, consider putting their Hawaiian name on it.

Aloha
The word “aloha” has many meanings, including hello, love, and goodbye. Greet your guests with a warm and sincere “Aloha!” just as they would if they arrived in Hawaii.

Outdoors
If you are able to hold your party outside, go for it. Being outdoors can give your party a special atmosphere that is hard to duplicate indoors.

Eat with your hands
Ancient Hawaiians ate with their hands. While it may not be for everyone, if you really want to do it old Hawaiian style, eat without utensils in a sanitary way.

Poi Tips
Poi can be eaten many ways. Some like it plain. Others add sugar. People even mix in some lomi salmon. Experiment to see what suits your taste.

Kalua Pig
Real kalua pig is cooked in the ground. An easy alternative is to make your kalua pig in the oven with some liquid smoke or in a crock pot. It tastes just like the real thing, only it’s a lot easier.