Luau Party Invitations

A luau party is a fun way to celebrate summer or to bring the warmth of fun with good friends to cold winter days. ShindigZ has all the Party TipZ you need to host a fabulous luau!

The first step to hosting your luau is creating a budget and the guest list. Send out your invitations at least 3-4 weeks in advance and expect around 25% of your RSVPs to be regrets.

Choose a party slogan to add to your invitations, banners and personalized favors. The slogan should tie in to the decorations and set the mood of the party. Try one of our luau themed slogans or create your own:

• “Come and Party at the Hukilau!”
• “Maui Magic”
• “Paradise Found”
• “Lost in Paradise”
• “Island Luau”

Add you slogan to your invitations then send them out! The Luau Floral Ensemble or Tiki Lounge Ensemble include invitations you can fill out yourself and they’ll coordinate with your tableware at the party. Toss some luau confetti into the envelopes for a fun surprise.

As an alternative, consider attaching a computer designed or hand-written tag to a lei, mini palm tree, votive candle or giant tissue palm tree then hand deliver your invitations. It will add a memorable and personal touch to your invitations.

Message in a bottle invitations are a fun tropical invitation you can send through the mail (extra postage required). Your guests will love the surprise in their mailbox!

In your invitation, encourage your guests to come dressed in tropical style. As the party’s host, dress up and you will be surprised to see how many of your guests will enjoy joining you. Slip into a light and airy sarong and have a few Hula Skirts on hand for your unprepared guests! Decorate them even further with Luau Print Bucket Hats and Hibiscus Print Bandannas.

Decorate for a Tropical Luau Party

Partygoers of any age love a tropical luau. ShindigZ makes it easy to transport your guests to an exotic island with our large selection of tips that will transform your party site into a tropical paradise. Whether you are decorating a back yard, a school gym or a large convention hall, we have the decorations that guarantee you a day in paradise.

There are several large decorating items that make great focal points for any tropical bash. The Luau Party Decorations include palm trees, colorful umbrellas and pink flamingos reminiscent of an island paradise. The Luau Cabana is a perfect place for guests to relax and enjoy a tropical drink or to pose for photos.

Line your front sidewalk with tiki torches, leading the way to the tropical party. Then, greet your guests at the door with tropical leis to finish off their Hawaiian attire and give a warm welcome. A customized vinyl banner in a tropical print is perfect for hanging above your door. Add your own Hawaiian or luau greeting!

A luau door curtain is an economic way to add a South Pacific flair to a backdoor or walkway, adding a tropical flourish to your party space. For a bolder entrance, set up a hibiscus floral arch or  Tiki Club decorations at the front of your party space. They also make great photo settings.

Palm trees are the ultimate Hawaiian Luau mood setter. We recommend having as many on hand as you can afford. We carry them in all shapes and sizes to fit any budget. For maximum effect, put your palm tree into a wading pool, fill it with sand and add some plastic shells, starfish and coconuts to the base of the tree. Add some blue gossamer and clear balloon “bubbles” to die the sides of the pool.

Because gossamer drapes and hangs beautifully, you can easily create a stunning tropical waterfall. We have used doorways and ladders, or your waterfall can be attached directly to a ceiling or rooftop with pins or nails.

When decorating a large indoor area, transform your room by covering walls with rolls of blue seamless paper to create a tropical paradise. Recruit some creative helpers to paint various beach scenes – waves, palm trees, the sun, beach towels, etc. Finish off the look by simply hanging some tissue bubble fish, a fish net, and tissue rainbow fish on the walls. Use our Surf Board Stand-ups for a tropical background or photo setting.

Hang a tropical bamboo curtain from a doorway and transport guests to an island paradise!
Finish off your decorating with table decorations. There is tons of luau themed tableware so you can coordinate your plates, cups, napkins and cutlery with the rest of your decorations.

Add a classic tropical look with a palm tree centerpiece. For another look, place a tea light in a coconut candle and surround it with a silk lei. Guests can take these items home with a favor.
Wrap your tables in true Hawaiian fashion with our raffia table skirting. Add a string or two of our tropical lights around the head table or buffet line for extra flair.

Choose any combination of these decorations or come up with your own and let us know your creative luau decorating ideas! Be sure to check out our luau party favors as well!

Avoid Party Limbo with Luau Activities

A Luau party would not be complete without some Hawaiian music being played, either by a live band or on your stereo. You will almost feel the warm ocean breeze. If dancing is in your plans, try lots and lots of Beach Boys and Reggae!

The young and the young at heart always enjoy the classic beach game of “limbo.” Check out the Limbo Kit. For a twist on this timeless favorite, try these variations:

• Flashlight limbo – Turn off all the lights and use the beam of the flashlight as your limbo stick.
• Garden-hose limbo – If party guests have their swimsuits on, or if the day is too hot for comfort, try using your garden-hose as the limbo stick.

Purchase or borrow a couple of hula-hoops. Let guests know that at a specified time there will be a “hula” contest and encourage them to practice if the mood strikes. Offer prizes, such as sun block and Chapstick(tm), for endurance and creativity. Have guests truly get in the mood by donning a Hula Skirt and Coconut Bikini Top.

Fill a bowl with key Hawaiian phrases, turn up the tropical music, and let your guests hula their way to winning. You could use “beach” related movies, songs, and TV shows as key phrases. (”Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii”; “Book ‘em Dano, from Hawaii 5-0″; “Itsy Bitsy Teensy Weensy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”)

Take turns being a child again and swinging at a Tiki Mask Pinata for fists full of tropical treats!

There are also luau craft kits, such as a making your own leis, fish sun catchers, or flip flop magnets. Kids and adults will love creating crafts and taking them home as favors.

Be sure to stock up on party favors for prizes in your games. Check out luau decorating tips too! Let us know what luau party activities you come up with.

Treat Guests with Tropical Favors

Party favors make great door prizes, awards for party games or simple guests to thank your guests for coming. These tropical party favors are perfect for your luau themed party.

Start by handing out favors such as floral leis, grass skirts and bucket hats to your guests as they arrive, decking them out in luau fashion. They can wear the tropical accessories throughout the party and take them home to enjoy all summer.

Fill real coconut cups with tropical beverages and serve them to your guests. They’ll love the luau drinks and can take the cup home as a favor.

Create memories that will last long after the party ends by giving personalized favors. There’s also tropical picture frames, beads, and leis you can have personalized with your own message.

Kids will love tiki lounge glasses and luau funtoos to wear during the party. Fill our luau tote bags full of treats for the little ones. They’ll love Hawaiian favor packs too!

Check out luau activities and craft kits for more ideas for luau party favors, or send us your ideas!