Throwing a boy's luau party can be a great time to use your creativity.
Although it can be associated as a girls party, there is plenty of fun to be had by boys at a luau party. Stay away from the flowers and any boy is going to enjoy the tropical fun a luau party can offer. Be creative and include the kid---he'll keep you pointed in the direction his age group appreciates in all that the islands have to offer. Does this Spark an idea?
The Invitations
For kids, the invitation can be just as exciting as the actual party---passing out some nifty cards can be the highlight of a school day. Take the time to be original on this. There are plenty of premade options available or you and your son can take on the task together. For a boy, try avoiding the flowery aspects of a luau and concentrate on the fire dancing, coconut trees, Polynesian masks or the beach. You can even use some less-than-normal invitation options---write them on a flip-flop, attach a drink umbrella or use surfboard-shaped cardboard.
The Ambiance
A luau party is a great opportunity to go a little overboard and let your creative side go wild. Look up some pictures on Hawaii and decide what aspects you think are the most fun or easiest to manage in your space and on the available budget. Great options include making a sand beach to play in (a large sandbox will do the trick), surfboard cut-outs, coconut drink holders, newspaper shredded and dyed green can edge a table as a grass skirt (another great activity for you and your son to do together), pineapple centerpieces and any other creative ideas you can come up with. If you aren't comfortable taking it on yourself, there are plenty of prepackaged kits available at any party supply store. However, don't forget to play some Hawaiian music and pass out the leis.
The Food
For the food, think tropical fruit. A fresh fruit bowl with pineapple and any other fruits will work well. If you aren't ready to take on a whole roasted pig, an oven-baked pork loin shredded and served with buns and sauces are a close-to-authentic option. Be sure to include a tropical drink (virgin pina coladas or mai tais are available premade or recipes are easy to come by) and from there simply include your child's favorite foods. As long as the table looks Hawaiian, the kids aren't going to be to worried about the food optionsthat will depend entirely on your budget.
The Activites
A tropical take on many normal kids' games can make a fun twist---hot coconut instead of hot potato (and afterwards you can make a show of cracking it open and letting the kids scrape out a piece of fresh coconut meat to try), pin the coconut on the palm tree, bobbing for seashells (similar to picking a duck; write numbers on the bottoms of the shells and have a grab bag associated with each number) or any number of arts and crafts. Don't forget the limbo, a luau staple. If you are feeling really adventurous, hire a hula dancer to come teach a dance for an hour; they aren't as expensive as you might think.
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