Decorate your guests by providing leis for them to wear.
Luau parties are fun to host during the summer months; although you can host a luau indoors, the party is guaranteed to be more fun when held outdoors or by the pool. Bring out your grass skirts and leis, and decorate the venue with inflatable parrots, tiki torches and elaborate pineapple and watermelon centerpieces. Does this Spark an idea?
Wall or Standing Decorations
Decorate the walls of the venue to help transform the area into a tropical paradise. You can do this whether the party is indoors or out. Set a few totem poles around the area and hang tribal masks on the walls. If you have any large fishing nets, cover the walls with them and place things into them as if you had caught them; shells, inflatable fish, empty bottles or oars work well for this purpose. If you don't live where there are real palm trees, purchase a few inflatable ones and place them around the venue.
Hanging Decorations
If the party is outdoors, string white twinkle lights in the trees; palm trees look the most authentic, but you can use whatever trees are outdoors. Hang paper lanterns or small tea light holders from the trees as well. If you are using real candles, ensure that the flames are nowhere near anything flammable. Purchase a few inflatable parrots or monkeys and hang them wherever possible.
Table Decorations
Purchase several grass skirts and tape them to the edges of your tables, allowing the fringe to hang down to the floor. Set a bright floral tablecloth on top of the table if you wish, or just leave it plain. Arrange a few loose flower blooms on the table and around the food; plumeria blooms are authentically Hawaiian, although you can use any large flower. Put a few hula girl figurines on the table as well. For a beach-themed luau, use seashells, starfish or sand dollars as place holders on the table.
Other Decoration
Decorate a large basket and set it near the party's entrance; fill it with leis, flowered shirts and grass skirts for the guests to wear if they didn't come dressed up. Provide brightly colored flip-flops for them to change into as well. If you are serving drinks, have on hand little paper umbrellas to go in them; the drink does not have to be alcoholic to be fun. If your party is held outdoors, light a few citronella candles and set them around the party area; not only will they look nice when it gets dark, but they will help to keep bugs away from the guests.
Tags: grass skirts, held outdoors, inflatable parrots, palm trees, them around