A hula party is not complete without leis.
Celebrating your birthday Hawaiian style means there will be plenty of colorful decorations with a tropical beach theme. A hula-themed birthday party can be tailored to the young or old, depending on the food and drink served and the games played. Hosting a hula birthday party allows you to be as creative as you want with festive decorations, fun island-inspired games and Hawaiian food. Does this Spark an idea?
Cakes
Shells, leis and coconuts can be cake adornments.
A hula-themed birthday party warrants a cake depicting Hawaii. Consider a hula girl cake where the center features an upright Barbie doll dressed in Hawaiian attire. The cake begins at her waist with a hula skirt. Or try making a flat sheet cake decorated in a beach scene, complete with Barbie dolls lounging in the sun boasting grass skirts and coconut tops.
Invitations
Create a message-in-a-bottle invitation.
In a little plastic bag, place a small amount of sand, some beach-themed confetti and tiny shells with a note inside specifying the party details. Seal the bag and place it in a blue envelope. Another option is to tie a rolled luau invitation with green raffia so that it looks like seaweed. Insert the invitation into a clear bottle and add sand and shells. Mail in a box.
Food
Serve luau drinks at the party.
Traditional luau fare will round out your menu. Main dishes for an adult party include fish, coconut shrimp, macadamia-crusted chicken breast, sweet potatoes and beef teriyaki, while a child's party calls for fish sticks, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and fruit skewers. Popular island drinks are a mai tai and piña colada; kids delight in blue punch and fruit smoothies. At either party, place bowls of small chocolate shells, blue gummy sharks, goldfish crackers and macadamia nuts on the tables.
Decorations
Find drinks and food at the tiki hut.
Begin by scattering seashells, colorful candies and fresh flowers on the tables. An outside party could have hollowed oranges as candle holders. Tie balloons to the center of tables anchored by a pineapple or coconut. Place fish netting around and adhere plastic crabs, seaweed, star fish and seashells. Consider purchasing an inflatable palm tree cooler, cardboard surfboards and a tiki hut to top off your decorations. Make sure Hawaiian-inspired music plays in the background and offer a lei to every person upon arrival.
Games
Play traditional games with luau objects.
Play adult games such as hula freeze dance or a pencil-and-paper game where Hawaiian gods are matched to their function. Children can make small volcanoes out of modeling clay and see whose "erupts" first when they add vinegar and baking soda. Play pass the coconut as children sit in a circle and try to outlast each other. The child left holding the coconut when the music stops is out, and the game continues until there is a winner.
Activities
Send guests home with a picture.
Children will delight in making anklets and bracelets from pasta. Paint tiny macaroni and have children string them onto a green rope, which depicts seaweed. Also fill a sandbox with sand, beach toys and seashells or a kiddie pool with water and plenty of plastic fish. Adult activities include limbo and posing in front of a blanket, sand and surfboard for a Polaroid keepsake.
Favors
Favors can include anything for the beach.
Give inexpensive flip flops in a standard size 8 for women and size 12 for men as a parting gift at the door. Simply tie them together with a green (seaweed) ribbon. Party bag goodies for children include blow-up beach balls, plastic sunglasses, bubbles, candy fish and a jump rope. Or fill a plastic pail with a shovel and small beach toys for each child. Attach a note in the shape of a hula girl with the saying: "Thanks for shaking up my party!"
Tags: birthday party, beach toys, hula girl, hula-themed birthday, hula-themed birthday party, with green