How to Host a Luau Party

Location and Décor

Since luau parties are overwhelmingly tropical in theme it's fitting to have your luau party outside during nice weather. Whether it's in your backyard or at the beach, the outdoors is definitely a friendly environment for grilling food. It can also be fun to be a little different and have a luau party inside during the colder months, as it can re-ignite people's spirits from the monotony of winter as they look forward to the warmer months to come.

Tiki torches are a must if your party will be outside, as they're quintessential in Polynesian-themed events. They lend a practical aspect as well, providing light to your party as it goes on past sunset. If your party audience skews more towards adults, you can delve into the kitschy 50s tiki cocktail culture direction by utilizing wooden tiki heads, sculptures, candles, and medallions. Anything surf and hula-girl-related is good for more casual luau parties, while decorating with large palms, tropical plants, bouquets, garlands, or leis of hibiscus and plumeria are especially nice for fancy or formal luau affairs. Whichever way you decide to go with the décor, the color green is generally the base for creating color schemes and communicating the luau theme well. It's a good idea to add colored Christmas-type string lighting in addition to any tiki torches you'll have. Pink, purple, and yellow compliment the basic green color scheme well.

Food and Drinks

Luaus typically center on a Hawaiian feast, making what you serve or cook one of the more important choices you can make in the party planning process. Whether you're having a large barbeque-style feast, a small gathering for dinner, or just want to add just a little bit of authenticity or festivity to your menu, here are some Hawaiian and Hawaiian-style dishes you may want to serve or cook at your luau party:

• Lomi salmon—cold tomato and salmon salad with onions, chili pepper, and sometimes cucumber.
• Poi—a sweet Polynesian staple made of water and mashed taro plant
• Kalua pork—the most typical dish served at luaus, pulled pork shoulder rubbed with salt, wrapped in banana and/or taro leaves, and slow smoked. If you're feeling adventurous, you can rent an imu pit to slow cook your pork right at your party.
• Lau lau—pork, fish, beef, or chicken (or any combination of those) wrapped in a taro leaf and smoked in an underground oven or imu pit.
• Poke—raw salted fish (usually ahi tuna, salmon, or octopus) salad with soy sauce, seaweed, and chili pepper.
• Opihi—saltwater snails. These may be difficult to get in some areas. If this is the case, oysters can be used as a substitute.
• Haupia—a sweet coconut milk-based gelatin dessert.
• Chicken long rice-- chicken cooked in broth, ginger, onions, and long-grain rice. In general, rice is a great and common side dish in Hawaiian cuisine.
• Meat skewers with chunks of pineapple and/or mango—though not strictly a traditional dish, it's an easy, low-maintenance dish that adds a splash of tropical-themed flavor. It's also a fun way to get everyone at your party involved in the grilling.

In terms of cocktails, punches are always a great party idea, though you'll want to have a rum base for the punch as well as any other cocktails. Rum is traditionally used in most tropical drinks. Mai Tais, Piña Coladas, Daiquiris, and Blue Hawaiians are typical fare, though if you're serving those who are underage, you can easily make flashy and fun non-alcoholic versions of these cocktails. If you want to be extra festive, get some cocktail umbrellas and coconut-shaped glasses for serving.

Entertainment

As far as the music is concerned, traditional Hawaiian music, more contemporary Hawaiian music (such as Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), surf rock, or anything featuring the ukulele and/or the lap steel guitar are all great ways to go. Internet radio or automated music recommendation service programs can be an easy solution if you're not sure exactly where to start.

If you're hosting a children's luau, games like hula freeze dance (similar to freeze tag and musical chairs) and Hawaiian tourist relay (in which children in teams race to put on Bermuda shorts, sunglasses, hats, etc., do a quick hula dance, and take off all the "tourist" clothes) can be fun and relevant to the party theme. Photo station areas with props like surfboards, sunglasses, grass skirts, coconut bras, etc. are always a crowd-pleaser and a great way to remember (and show off) how much fun your party was. If you are more into crafts, weaving palm frond fans and making leis are relatively simple projects and can be a fun activity for smaller groups or as a separate station area in a large party. Hula hooping, Aloha volleyball (played with a beach ball and much simpler rules), and the limbo are standard tropical party games, appropriate for almost any demographic.

Wardrobe Ideas

Now is the time to go all the way with anything in your closet that might be over-the-top tropically themed to wear in any regular situation. If you’re not feeling as adventurous, though, there are still many small touches you can make to your outfit so you can still feel a part of the festivities. Here are some ideas:

• Straw fedoras—especially for men, this can be a nice touch that can be used for formal and casual gatherings alike.
• Floral and Hawaiian prints—though it may be the most obvious choice, these prints can look fresh and novel depending on how you use them. For example, wearing a 1940s-style dress shape with bright, tropical colors can look elegant, slightly quirky, and festive at the same time.
• Tube dresses and muu muus—casual tube dresses, and to an even larger extent, muu muus, are great for comfort and breeziness, especially if you'll plan to partake in all the Hawaiian feasting.
• Golden Girls—think wicker purses, pastels, shimmery lamé, and palm-themed collared dresses. If it's good enough for their Floridian lanai, it's good enough for your luau.