How to Throw Your Own Luau Party

If you are throwing a party, try going with a Hawaii theme and throw your own luau. A luau is basically a Hawaiian feast to celebrate special occasions like weddings, birthday parties, holidays, etc. Like a Texas barbeque, luaus are usually held outdoors, but if that's not feasible where you live, you can hold it indoors. The main thing is for everyone to enjoy the food, the company, and the atmosphere. Throwing a Hawaiian party can be easy and fun if you just follow a few simple steps.

Wear the luau attire. This means fun Hawaiian dresses or shirts and a fun care-free attitude. Let your guests know ahead of time that the party will have a Hawaiian theme and encourage them to wear their favorite Hawaiian attire. Browse our photo galleries to get ideas on what to wear.
Put on your favorite Hawaiian CD to create a festive mood for your guests.
Get a bunch of silk flower leis for you and your guests. If you want, you can go with the more expensive real flower leis shipped from Hawaii. Real or fake, the leis add a touch of authenticity to your party.
Serve traditional Hawaiian luau food. This usually includes poi, kalua pig (see recipe below), lomi salmon (see recipe below), chicken long rice (see recipe below), and haupia (coconut pudding). You can also have pineapple or other tropical fruits and chocolate covered or salted macadamia nuts since they are almost universally popular.
Make tropical drinks like Hawaiian iced tea, pineapple juice, pina coladas, daiquiris, and mai tais. We recommend the book, "101 Great Tropical Drinks" for ideas and recipes.
Set up the entrees on a single table buffet-style, decorated with flowers (real or fake) and other tropical touches.
Use paper or plastic plates and utensils. Some paper plates come with tropical designs on them for added flair.
If you throw your party outdoors, set up a few tiki torches with citronella to achieve proper luau lighting and to keep mosquitoes away.

Luau Party Checklist

Hawaiian attire
Leis and flowers
Luau food
Luau drinks
Hawaiian music
Decorations (tiki torches, table skirts, etc)
Paper plates

Party Tips

Party Invitations - Send invitations to your guest list on island themed cards or, if you send your invitations by email, use tropical clipart. Be sure to ask your guests to wear their loudest or favorite Hawaiian wear.

Hawaiian Names - If you need to make name tags for your guests, consider putting their Hawaiian name on it.

Aloha - The word "aloha" has many meanings, including hello, love, and goodbye. Greet your guests with a warm and sincere "Aloha!".

Outdoors - If you are able to hold your party outside, give it a try. Being outdoors can give your party a special atmosphere that is hard to duplicate indoors.

Eat with your hands - Ancient Hawaiians ate with their hands. While it may not be for everyone, if you are feeling adventurous, try eating without utensils.

Poi Tips - Poi can be eaten many ways. Some like it plain. Others add sugar. People even mix in some lomi salmon. Experiment to see what suits your taste.

Kalua Pig - Real kalua pig is cooked in the ground. An easy alternative is to cook your pork butt in the oven with some liquid smoke. It tastes pretty much like the real thing, only it's a lot easier.

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