A real Hawaiian hula dancer
An indoor luau is a great theme for any party. With the large variety of decorations available for a luau, your guests can enjoy spending a night in the islands, even during a cold, dark winter. If you set the mood with decorations, yummy food and drinks, music and fun, you're sure to have a successful indoor luau that won't be forgotten. Does this Spark an idea?
Decorations
The sky is the limit when it comes to decorating ideas for an indoor luau. Buy decorations with a Polynesian flair, and make your home feel like a Hawaiian resort. String multicolored lantern lights across the ceiling, and place unlit tiki torches in the corners and on either side of the front door. You can use flowers such as bird of paradise, red ginger, hibiscus, orchids and anthurium to make tropical flower arrangements. Because these flowers are big and colorful, you'll only need a few. For centerpieces, fill bowls with river rocks and tea lights, and place them in the center of the table. Cut a coconut in half, drain the milk, wipe out the inside and place a candle and some rocks inside. Make sure the coconut is stable to prevent fires. Pass out flower leis to the guests, or give them a single flower to tuck in their hair or pin on their shirts.
Activities
What is an indoor luau without hula dancing? Your guests can learn the traditional dance of Hawaii. If you have a higher budget, hire a dance instructor to teach your guests to hula. If you don't want to spend the money on a live instructor, buy videos online at websites such as centralhome.com. There are also online videos with step-by-step hula instructions, so you can learn the dance yourself and teach your guests. Or use a projector or set up your computer so your guests can watch the video online. These types of instructional videos can be found at sites such as monkeysee.com.
Food & Drinks
Yummy food and drink recipes are ideal for an indoor luau. Don't spend a lot of money on Hawaiian spices or complicated recipes. Hawaiian cuisine is a melting pot of cultural dishes. An ideal menu consists of a variety of Hawaii-inspired appetizers, such as chicken and beef teriyaki, Filipino egg rolls called lumpia, Korean-style ribs called kalbi, and fresh fruits and vegetables. If you have access to a grill, make rum-soaked pineapple on the grill. You can find these types of recipes at epicurious.com.
When it comes to drinks, you can get away with anything that contains rum and fruit. Frozen drinks, such as pina coladas and daiquiris, are a popular choice. Place mini umbrellas on the side of each drink to give it a tropical feel.
Dress
Ask your guests to dress in Hawaiian clothing. You can wear Hawaiian print flowered shirts and grass skirts. You can buy a Haku lei, which is a circular, flowered lei worn on the head.
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