How to Throw a Luau Theme Birthday Party for Kids

If a summer birthday party is in your plans, you can't go wrong with a luau theme. Both kids and adults love the relaxed atmosphere a luau provides, and it's easy to hold this party outdoors, the best place to be when entertaining kids.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Construction paper
• Foil palm trees
• Neon colored table covers
• Helium filled balloons
• Coconuts
• Plastic leis
• Trash bags
• Sugar cookies and icing
• Hula hoops
• Prizes

1. Cut palm trees or tropical flower shapes out of construction paper to use as an invitation. On the front write, the words "Hele me hoohiwahiwa Mary's 7th la hanau" which means "Come celebrate Mary's 7th birthday" in Hawaiian. Just substitute the birthday child's name and age in the phrase and ask guests to wear brightly colored beach attire.

2. Hang lots of foil palm trees and brightly colored birds which are easily found in party or discount stores. Cover tables in bright colors like lime green, pink and yellow and serve dry snacks in seashell shaped bowls.
   Helium filled balloons attached to a coconut as a weight make great table centerpieces. Make a banner that says "Hau' oli la Hanau" which means "Happy Birthday".

3. Greet guests by saying "Aloha" and present them with a plastic lei and grass skirt. You can make some skirts out of drawstring trash bags by cutting off the bottom and then making numerous vertical cuts to create strips. Use the drawstring handles to tie it around the waist. If you have boys who don't want to wear a skirt, substitute a beachcomber style straw hat.

4. Make sugar cookies using Hawaiian theme cookie cutters in shapes like palm trees, dolphins and flowers. Set them on a table with lots of different colors of icing and sprinkles and have kids decorate their own cookie rather than serving birthday cake.

5. Hold a hula hoop contest and award prizes for who can hula hoop the longest and who can keep the most hoops going at one time.

6. Take a pictures of each of the kids in their Hawaiian attire holding some type of prop like a coconut monkey or parrot. Then include the photo in their thank you card. If you make your own cards, use the term "Mahalo" which means "Thank You."

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