Relive a vacation to Hawaii or simply capture the relaxing atmosphere of the islands by hosting a luau party for your child. Send simple invitations that convey the theme of the festivities and invite the guests to wear clothing in vibrant tropical colors and patterns. Continue the luau theme with refreshing food and drinks, spirited and entertaining party games and colorful decorations that evoke the feel of a festive Hawaiian event. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Design kids' luau party invitations with blank 4-by-5-inch cards in orange, yellow, green or a shade that matches your party decorations. Apply overlapping flower stickers in a circle on the front of the card to resemble a Hawaiian lei. Use colorful markers to write a tag line across the bottom of the card such as "Aloha! It's a Luau Party" or "Hula Over to My Party. Write or print the party specifics on a 3-by-5-inch piece of cardstock, including the location, time, date and RSVP details. Attach the cardstock piece inside the card with double-stick tape.
2. Adorn the walls with a sunset beach theme. Paint strips of butcher paper with red, orange, yellow, ocean blue and beige paint. Attach the strips to the wall with temporary adhesive, allowing the edges to overlap to create the effect of the sun setting in the background and the water and sand in the foreground. Hang paper lanterns from the windows and doorways and make table centerpieces featuring tropical flowers.
3. Prepare refreshments such as finger sandwiches cut into flower shapes using cookie cutters; coconut-topped cupcakes; and kabobs made by threading chunks of mangoes, pineapples, strawberries and oranges on wood skewers. Serve fruit punch or pineapple juice. Buy paper plates, napkins and cups with pre-printed luau designs or create your own by adding Hawaiian-themed stickers to the center of each paper plate or cup.
4. Present each guest with a party favor bag filled with items such as a plastic lei, sunglasses, fish-shaped rings, a beach ball and inexpensive flip-flops. Allow the kids to wear them throughout the party and take the gifts home.
5. Play games such as Hawaiian tourist relay, which requires one member from each team to run to a table to put on a Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts, sunglasses, a floppy hat and a camera before doing the hula for one minute, taking the outfit off and running back so the next teammate in line can take a turn. Organize a hula freeze dance contest to see which kids can stop hula dancing immediately when you turn the Hawaiian music off.
Tags: Luau Party, orange yellow