THEY'LL LOVE A LUAU^©

Sending a "message-in-a-bottle" invitation is perfect for this island theme.  Write the party particulars on a 5" x 7" sheet of tropical-patterned paper, roll up and tie with a ribbon. Insert into a recycled, plastic soda bottle with a few seashells, sand, plastic lei  and a tropical drink paper umbrella Decorate the bottle with themed stickers, attach a mailing label and take to your post office to mail. (Note:  Send one to yourself first to judge its condition and to determine length of time it takes to arrive.)

Write the invitation on a long strip of paper and insert into a conch shell.  Mail in a recycled, decorated mini milk carton.

Print your invitation copy with a paint pen on the inside of a large clam or scallop shell.  Mail in a small box or cushioned envelope.

Pen the wording on green construction paper cut into the shape of leaves, and attach to a silk gardenia or other exotic flower.  Add a drop of gardenia oil to the flower to add to the experience.  Send in a long, thin box designed to mail flowers.  (These can be found at florists, floral suppliers and box manufacturers locally or via an online supplier.)

Find travel brochures or magazine photos to an island getaway, and use labels to insert your invitation copy.

Type up your invitation and glue to a set of sunglasses. Mail in a small box or cushioned envelope decorated with tropical stickers.

  Send invitation information printed on a tag that is attached to a plastic lei Place in a plastic, self-sealed storage bag, add a colorful address label and mail, as is, from your post office.

Tropical togs is the dress code for this island getaway.

Make name tags with your guests Hawaiian names.

Tie on a pile of fruit attached to a scarf for a Chiquita Banana look as part of your party host costume.

Adorn each guest with a flower or seashell lei when they enter your hut and make them part of your decor.

The ladies will have "happy hands and feet" when they're covered with colorful floral bands made from leis

Bright floral prints or hot colors, fish nets  seashells, leis palm trees, surfboards, and plants will turn any party site into an island retreat.

 Straw beachcomber  or novelty hats will add to the atmosphere and serve as a great party favor.

Float candles in bowls half-filled with colored water.

Drape tropical floral print sheets or grass skirts on your furniture.

  Line your walkway with luau novelty lights  or theme luminarias

 Cover your outside door with grass skirts  to let guests know where the party starts.

Tie "flying fishes" to your ceiling fan or trees.  Or suspend a tropical pinata and have guests take a whack at it with a bamboo pole after you've done the limbo.

 Wire toy birds to plants and trees.

 Play sounds of the sea, luau music, island drums or rainforest tapes and Cds.

 Add color and motion to your displays with pin wheels  blowing in the breeze.

 Set up a faux grass-hut  with grass skirts affixed to a cardboard covered frame for souvenirs and mementos to be purchased with tokens won during activities.

If the party is indoors, replace your lampshades with paper lanterns

Suspend a large luau banner to your front door or garage to help guests locate your hut.

Rent or borrow from your library movies or travelogues with a South Seas locale. Try “South Pacific,” “Blue Hawaii,” “Gidget Goes Hawaiian,” “Hawaii,” or any other videos that appeal to you.  You can find great bargains on used videos. Go nuts with an Elvis Collection. You don’t need to leave the sound on, just play the video for added atmosphere.

 Check with local dance studios or cultural groups to see if you can find a hula dancer to perform, and then have him or her give lessons to your guests.

Or you can learn to hula and teach your guests.

 Find the musician in your group who can plink out island tunes on a ukulele.

Host a hula contest, complete with hula skirts  and island rhythms.

 Get your guests to try making sounds with a conch shell. (It's more difficult than it looks.)

Add tropical beauty with colorful tissue-paper flowers.  Teach your guests how to create their own "wild Spanish rose" by following the instructions here

Invite everybody up to limbo under a bamboo pole.

Toss a beach ball around your yard or on the beach.

 Hold a Don Ho sing-along.

Let kids (or adults who have had a few Mai Tais) have fun by playing Pin the Monkey on the Palm Tree

Make a Planters or pineapple-based punch or try a Polynesian Pleasure Punch cocktail.

Serve drinks in pineapples or coconut shells (These are generally available in the produce section of your local market.)  Plastic versions are affordable and reuseable or use festive margarita style glasses . Add pineapple wedges, orange slices or tropical-print, mini, paper umbrellas  or novelty straws or picks  as a garnish.

Scour thrift shops or E-bay to find souvenir glasses from Polynesian-themed restaurants.  These are also often available through local or online bar supply companies.

Serve pineapple chunks topped with a maraschino cherry on a toothpick, in a pineapple skin.  (You can sprinkle with brown sugar if the pineapple isn't sweet enough.)  Decorate with tropical theme picks Baste chicken wings with a pineapple, mango, kiwi or other tropical fruit glaze.

Prop up a surfboard on chairs or sawhorses to use as your buffet table.

Serve your meal in shell-shaped bowls, bamboo or rattan trays, bowls inserted into straw baskets, on trays lined with large, clean and bug-free leaves,  pineapple skins  or coconut shells.  Or select tropical patterned serving dishes and platters

Pour drinks from island inspired pitchers

Serve goldfish crackers or candies in the shape of undersea creatures in a goldfish bowl or tropical design bowls and platters

Tie tropical bird candies into a small plant.

Serve dry snacks in an upturned beachcomber hat  or in the rim.

Cook or buy barbecued spare ribs, fried rice (add pineapple chunks for a more tropical flavor), sweet and sour pork or chicken, crab Rangoon and other delicacies which seem appropriate. Garnish them with small paper fans or tropical food picks  to give them a luau look.

 Use brightly-colored straw plate holders or colorful tropical print paper goods  to make any menu item befitting of your luau.

Serve vanilla ice cream topped with shredded coconut, pineapple chunks, and/or tropical fruit jam in coconut shells, pineapples or margarita glasses for dessert.  Garnish with small fans  or tropical picks

Set drinks on ice in a child's wading pool, preferably one with a tropical fish design.

Award copies of the book “Hawaii” by James Michener.

Present the ladies with giant flowers (great closeout price) to take home.

Find souvenirs of island getaways at thrift shops and garage sales.

Sunglasses  are a must for your daytime luau.

Prepare a backdrop  and take instant photos of your friends and slip into an inexpensive frame from a dollar store or thrift shop you’ve hot glued with seashells or simply affix to a small, decorative paper plate

 Don't forget, colorful straw beachcomber hats or goofy novelty hats with a luau look  will add to the fun and the memories as well when used as a party favor or prize.

Visors waterproof "safes," , floral hair combs , temporary luau tattoos, and inflatable beach toys  all will be welcome gifts of your guests' time at your island retreat.

More costumes and make-up supplies for your Luau Look!