Luau Party Ideas & Activities

Luau parties often make people think of the tropics, floral leis, sand, fun and a cook out. A traditional Hawaiian luau is often held outside or on the beach and includes natural tropical foliage, musical entertainment and dancing. For food consider pig, fish or salmon for the main course, tropical fruits to snack like pineapples, mangoes and papaya and then add in sweet potatoes as a side dish.

If you have kids attending the event, consider a Hawaiian pizza and also consider having a regular pizza too.

Party Decorations
Palm fronds or trees, orchid sprays for leis or silk flowers, tiki torches, shells,
Star fish, fish nets, miniature hula girls, surf boards
Pictures of the beach and waves, guitars, ukuleles

Several variations of this theme include Hula Girl, Flip Flop Party, Surfer Girl, Surfer Dude, Lilo and Stich and Beach Party

Dress
Clothes with colorful floral prints, sarongs, Hawaiian shirts and have hula skirts for later.

Music
Background music consider Hawaiian music, Don Ho or ocean surf.

Games and Activities

1. Make your own Flower Leis
Use real or silk flowers, have thread and a long sewing needle. You will need about 50 blossoms per lei, so have lots of flowers.

2. Learn to do the Hula
Go to the library and find a book, tape or video on learning to Hula or be creates and teach a routine to your guests. Since a hula dance tells a story, see if you can teach a story to the kids and have them perform for the adults. Make sure you have Hula skirts!


3. Learn your Hawaiian name
This is a fun activity and great for the Luau.

The Hawaiian alphabet only has 13 letters!
A, E, H, I K, L, M, N, O, P, U and W

And the consonants are produced like they are in English. H, K, L, M, N, P, W

If a name ends in a consonant then you need to add a vowel.
And there must always be a vowel between consonants.
The Hawaiian vowels are pronounced as follows.
A – ah
E – ay
I – ee
O – oh
U – oo

Now letter match up other English letters with Hawaiian letters
P = B, F, P
K = C, D, G, J, K, S, T, X, Z
L = L, R
W = V, W
I = J, Y

Let’s Translate a few names
Sarah = Kalaha
Jeff = Kepapa
Alice = Alike
Andrew = Anakinewa

Have fun using these names for the evening

4. Play the traditional Hawaiian game of Ulu Maika
This is easy to set up and is played like horseshoes.
Place a stick post in the ground and then gather stones for throwing. Those throwing stones stand and equal distance away 10, 15, 20 feet and toss the stones at the stick. The closest one to the stick wins. (One throw per person per round)

Consider painting stones different colors, so you can keep track of who through what. Also if you want to keep score give 1 point to the person who is the closest. Then depending how many people are playing play until someone hits 6 or 11 points.

5. Hula Hoop 
Hula Hoop Games & Challenges
Who can keep a hula hoop going the longest?
Who can do the most hula hoops at a time for at least 10 seconds?
Crazy Fun – See how much people can fit in a hula hoop.
Hula Hoop Ring Toss – See who can ring an item 10, 20 or 30 feet away!
Hula Hoop Roll – Who can send a hula rolling the farthest?

6. The classic Limbo

Have fun planning an incredible Luau, Surf, or Beach party by implementing these ideas from Party Game Ideas.