How to Plan a Hawaiian Luau Birthday Party for Kids

Last Updated: May 19, 2022 References

Hau`oli la Hanau! That means happy birthday in Hawaiian. A Hawaiian luau is a perfect theme for a child's birthday, especially in the summer months. With endless options for decor, food, and games, planning a child’s luau birthday party is a great way to exercise your creativity. Choose a breezy, outdoor venue, select colorful decorations, serve Hawaiian-inspired party food, and bring a tropical twist to classic party games!

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Choosing the Venue and Decorations

1
Pick a location. Decide whether you want to host the party at your home or at a different venue. Ideally, you should pick a location that fits with the luau theme. Pools, plentiful outdoor space, and BBQ areas help create a breezy luau vibe. If you want to host your party at a pool but don’t have one at home, community clubhouses and parks often have pools, and can usually be reserved for a reasonable fee.
- If your child is under five, it may be better to hold the party at home. New environments can easily overwhelm younger children.
2
Prepare for the weather. If you are hosting the party outside, take weather into account.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Christina Millikin
Founder & CEO, Glow Events
Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.} The party date will probably be too far in advance to check the forecast, but consider the time of day. If you live in an area where it rains every afternoon in the summer, host the party in the evening.
- If you are afraid a rain shower might spoil your outdoor luau, it’s a good idea to plan some indoor-friendly party activities just in case.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
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3
Go for a tropical color scheme. Pick bright, tropical colors to play into the luau theme! Lime green, turquoise, bright orange, and hot pink are all great options. You can go for a rainbow scheme, or opt for more specific tropical colors. Your color scheme will help you select decorations that match.
- For example, you might want to focus on pinks and oranges, or greens and blues.
- When selecting a color scheme, consult your child or think about their favorite colors.
4
Purchase leis. Leis are colorful Hawaiian necklaces made of flowers, and sometimes shells, seeds, and feathers. They are a symbol of affection and are often worn at celebrations.^{[3]
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Research source} Spread the luau spirit by purchasing plastic or fabric leis in bulk from you local party supply store.^{[4]
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- Leis can double as a decoration and a party favor! Hang leis on tables and chairs for an instant luau feel, and give leis to kids as they arrive so everyone looks festive!
5
Put flowers and plants everywhere. Bright flowers and green plants create a tropical Hawaiian atmosphere. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can purchase live plants or synthetic ones. Put the plants on counters, chairs, and tables to turn your home or pool deck into a Hawaiian getaway.
6
Make centerpieces out of fruit. A bowl of assorted tropical fruits makes a beautiful centerpiece, and can double as a party snack! Try coconut, kiwi, lime, mangoes, and citrus fruits.
7
Decorate with grass table skirts. Grass table skirts can completely transform your tables. Simply attach the skirt to the rim of your table according to the directions on the package. Many skirts have an adhesive backing. You can purchase grass table skirts at your local party supply store.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Making the Guest List and Invitations

1
Make a guest list. To have a party, you’ll need to invite your child’s friends! Parents should make the guest list for kids under 4. Think about family friends and friends from school who you’d like to invite. Children over 4 should probably be given a say in making the guest list.
2
Decide whether to make or buy invitations. You can buy luau-themed invitations from your local party store, or you can try your hand at making them! Depending on the size of your guest list, making invitations may not be feasible.
- Invitations should include the time, date, and location of the party. Don’t forget to mention any special details!^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.} For your luau-themed party, you might want to direct children to bring their swimsuits.
3
Choose festive, colorful invitations. Go for colorful, tropical invitations decorated with flip flops, flowers, or ocean waves. If you are buying your invitations, consider using Hawaiian postcards.
- If you decide on homemade invitations, flip-flop-shaped invitations made from construction paper are a cute, easy option. Print the invitation text on colored cardstock, then trace and cut out a flip-flop shape. You can find stencils online and print them. Glue on a silk flower for extra flair.^{[7]
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- The possibilities are limitless. You could make flower-shaped invitations, or even attach invitations to a lei! Visit party planning websites or blogs for more ideas.^{[8]
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4
Send out your invitations two to four weeks in advance. You should give the guests enough time to plan ahead, but not so much time that they forget about the event. Send out invitations at least two weeks, but no more than four weeks, before your party.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Christina Millikin
Founder & CEO, Glow Events
Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Planning the Party Food

1
Decide whether to cook or cater. You can cook the food for your party, or hire a catering service. If you have a large number of people attending your party, cooking may not be feasible. On the other hand, if you are not planning to serve a lot of food or the party is small, cooking can be a fun and cost effective option.
2
Decide how much food you want to serve. Do you want to serve a full meal at your luau party, or would you rather serve only snacks? It’s entirely up to you. For shorter parties, cake and ice cream may be the only refreshment needed.
3
Choose tropical flavors. The food at your Hawaiian luau-themed party doesn't need to be completely authentic. Hawaiian food is full of fruity and tropical flavors, so focus on incorporating those into traditional party foods.^{[10]
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- Try a tropical fruit salad, mango ice cream, or pineapple salsa and chips!
4
Include a pork dish. A roast pig, or Kalua pua'a, is the central dish of the traditional Hawaiian Luau. It is usually seasoned with sea salt and green onions, and baked in an underground oven.^{[11]
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Research source} Roasting an entire pig is probably a little ambitious for a children’s party, especially since kids are picky eaters, but you can opt for easier, party-friendly pork dishes inspired by the traditional Hawaiian dish.
- Serve a ham baked with pineapple rings, or pulled pork sandwiches on Hawaiian sweet buns. You could even order a Hawaiian pizza for extra picky eaters!
- If you feel up to the challenge you can even roast a whole pig if you really want to impress.
5
Choose finger foods. Whether you are making the food or having the party catered, finger foods are great options for a luau party, where kids will likely be grabbing food quickly as they play. Plus, you’ll save on plastic cutlery.
- Kabobs are easy and tropical. Try making fruit kabobs or ham and pineapple kabobs.^{[12]
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- Pizza and sandwiches are simple and versatile.
- Ocean-themed candy and snacks go well with a Hawaiian luau party, and are easy to buy in bulk! Try Swedish Fish candy or Goldfish crackers.
6
Serve fruity drinks. Cold drinks are luau must-have, especially if you are hosting the party outside on a hot day. Stock up on water, but consider serving other beverages as well, especially fruity ones! Fruit smoothies and juices are great.
- Garnish your beverages with slices of oranges, paper umbrellas, and colorful straws.^{[13]
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- Look online for tons of fun non-alcoholic drink recipes. You might even want to serve some tropical cocktails for your fellow parents.
- You may want to set up a “bar,” where kids and adults alike can go to get fruity drinks!
7
Pick a colorful, beachy cake. For many kids, the cake is the focal point of the party. Buy or bake a cake that fits with the luau theme. It should be colorful and beachy. Cakes shaped like flip-flops, fish, or sand castles are sure to delight partygoers.
- When buying a cake, consider allergies and the number of guests. You may need to buy 2 cakes for especially large luaus!

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Planning the Party Activities

1
Pick age-appropriate games. The activities you plan for your party should depend on the average age of the children attending. For younger kids, you should plan simpler activities, and if you’re hiring performers, keep the performances short.
- If you are hosting your party at a pool, the water may provide all the entertainment you need, particularly for younger children.
- Try to pick activities that can also involve the parents, as that can be lots of fun for all the guests!^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christina Millikin
  Founder & CEO, Glow Events
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2020.}
2
Add a tropical twist to classic party games. Planning the party activities for your luau party can be simple: just tweak classic party games to fit the theme.
- Play hot potato using a tropical fruit, like a mango or a coconut, as the "hot potato." Or, play ring toss using leis as rings. Have players try to loop the leis around mini tiki torches.^{[15]
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- Buy a beachy pinata that fits with the luau theme, and fill it with tropical candy, like fruit gummies, Swedish fish, and citrus-flavored starbursts. Blindfold each child, and let him or her take a swing at breaking it open!
3
Give kids a hula dance lesson. Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance, and is considered one of Hawaii’s oldest traditions.^{[16]
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Research source} Turn on some Hawaiian music and have a dance contest, or hire a hula instructor to teach the kids.
- Consider providing hula skirts so kids can wear them as they dance. These can double as party favors!
4
Do the Limbo! Limbo is a classic island game in which participants bend backwards and dip under a bar without touching it. Those who touch the bar are “out.”The bar moves lower and lower, and the last player standing wins. This fun party game requires minimal supplies. Just turn on some Hawaiian tunes, find a limbo stick, and play!^{[17]
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- No need to buy a limbo stick--a broomstick works just fine.
5
Have a hula hoop competition. A hula hoop competition is a simple and fun luau party activity for older kids. Have the kids compete to see who can hula hoop the longest, and don’t forget to play Hawaiian music.^{[18]
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6
Make leis. Lei-making is a simple craft that even preschool-aged children can do with a little help from their parents. Provide string and assorted fabric flowers with holes punched in the middle. Kids can select their favorite flowers and string them together to make custom leis.
- If you want, you can purchase beads and shells for kids to add to their leis.
- You can let older children use construction paper to cut out their own flower designs. Provide a few different flower stencils and let them get creative.^{[19]
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- Kids can take these DIY leis home as party favors!

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I make the cleanup easier?

Christina Millikin
Founder & CEO, Glow Events
Christina Millikin is the Founder and former CEO of Glow Events, an event planning agency based in San Francisco, California. Glow Events is a boutique event planning firm specializing in full event production and creative design for corporate and social events. Christina has worked with clients such as Salesforce, Heroku, Okta, and Netflix. Glow Events' work has been featured in Martha Stewert Weddings, InStyle, and SanFrancisco Magazine. Christina is an advisor to the management team at Glow, as well as a business advisor for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, and she has a BS in Marketing from the University of Florida.

Christina Millikin

Founder & CEO, Glow Events

Expert Answer

Well, many hands do make light work! Get some helpers and give yourself lots of time to clean up. If you're working with a caterer, make sure they're cleaning up during the event, picking up dirty plates and glasses, as this will definitely reduce the workload after the party.
Question

How do I make hula skirts?

Community Answer

You'll need elastic string, beige or green colored inch-wide strips of fabric, paper (or other such material), a sewing needle, thread and scissors. Take the elastic string and cut about the sizes of the children's waists. Next you make holes in the strips and slide them onto the elastic until it's full, then you knot it or sew it closed.
Question

Are barbecue pulled pork sandwiches considered Hawaiian?

Community Answer

Yes. Use sweet buns. Pickles go nicely on them. This is also a good dish for a pool party.

Warnings

Always supervise children playing around water, especially swimming pools.

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Be respectful of Hawaiian culture. While your party doesn’t need to be completely authentic, it shouldn’t mock the culture either.

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