How to Throw the Ultimate Hawaiian Theme Party
Every year more than 9.5 million people visit the Hawaiian islands, and that number keeps ticking up as an increasing number of visitors fall in love with the lush landscape and beautiful culture. However, a trip to the Aloha State can be pricey, and not always practical. Yet you can bring a burst of that sunshine and color to your next event with a Hawaiian theme party, setting the stage for a luau in your very own backyard. Which you can set in motion with luau invitations or summer-themed invites.
Curious what you need to get going? Keep reading for some Hawaiian theme party ideas—from planning tips to island-worthy decorations.
How to Host a Hawaiian Theme Party
You’ve settled on your theme—Hawaiian it is. You’ve got this. But where do you start? There are a few different micro-themes you can go with. Consider a:
- Classic Luau: relaxed, tropical and family-friendly
- Surf Shack Bash: Vintage beach movies, fish tacos and shaved ice—like a tropical summery barbecue
- Tiki Night: Adults-only cocktail party with bold drinks and a bamboo bar
But, really, no matter the specific route you take with your Hawaiian-themed party, it really starts with the location. And from there, it’s a lot of similarities regarding decor. You really want to focus on vibrant colors that just scream Hawaii—think hot pinks, bright orange, sunny yellows and neon green. That might sound like too much color, but trust us when we say it will all come together in the final product, even if you’re ultimately going for a kids’ summer party.
As for music, there are so many great playlists already curated to choose from. On Spotify, cue up All the Aloha: Native Hawaii, or on Apple Music, head to Hawaiian Essentials. It’s truly incredible what the power of music can do, and these playlists will transport you to the islands from anywhere in the world with the very first song.
Hawaiian Theme Party Decorating 101
From the moment your guests walk through the door, hand out leis or flowers for the hair. If you have extras, use them to decorate tables and chairs. There’s no such thing as too much leis or too many flowers.
Grass skirts can be used to wrap tables, chairs or even create wall trim. Then, especially if you’re having an evening party, grab some tiki torches (either real or LED) to create some ambience. Just make sure that if you’re using real flames that there’s nothing flammable around them. Safety first.
Purchase some palm leaves and tropical flatters to scatter about instead of a formal tablescape. For some quirky fun, get inflatable palm trees to place around your yard. You can also go for inflatable beach balls, parrots and flamingos to add to the space.
Surf Shack Bash
Location: This might be best served by a pool, the beach or even somewhere lakeside. With proximity to the water you can really bring in a breezy, island feel (even if an actual ocean is many, many miles away). It’s all about laid-back coastal vibes, tropical touches and a breezy, carefree atmosphere. Here’s how to bring that to life:
- Keep it casual using beach chairs, blankets, hammocks or even pallets with brightly-colored floor cushions to create hangout zones.
- Set up a shaded “shack” area with a canopy or beach umbrella for food and drinks. And, by the way, keep refreshments super casual for this theme. Fish tacos, sliders and fruit skewers or chips with guac all fit this scenario.
- This Hawaiian-theme party works best during the daytime. Bring out a cornhole set, limbo stick or even a makeshift “surfboard balance” game (use a balance board).
Classic Luau
Location: You can easily recreate a luau vibe in your backyard, or bring it to the beach if necessary.
- Think along the lines of a long table with bright tablecloths and serve up Hawaiian-style bites like grilled chicken or pork, rice, fresh fruit, and maybe some pineapple upside-down cake for dessert.
- Keep a few ukuleles on hand so that guests can pick one up to try their hand at some tunes for a beachy vibe.
- Add a limbo stick or a hula contest if people are feeling playful. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just festive, friendly and full of island spirit.
Tiki Night
Location: Unless you have a favorite local tiki bar to rent out, you can create this in your home with some assistance from colorful flowers, leis and, of course, a few tiki torches (ourdoors), to give your space a tropical glow-up.
- Go all in on creating a cozy, tropical escape—right in the backyard or even the living room. Set up a little ‘bar’ space with bamboo, thatch or a simple folding table draped in a tropical-print cloth.
- Stock it with fun glassware (think tiki mugs or coconuts), paper umbrellas and a lineup of rum-based drinks, plus a mocktail option with pineapple juice, lime and a splash of soda.
- Go with string lights, lanterns and fake parrots or carved tiki heads for good measure.
- Keep snacks easy—maybe a pupu platter style spread with skewers, chips and dip and tropical fruit. This is all about the kitsch.
What’s a Good Menu For a Luau?
A traditional luau menu likely involves roasting a pig, which just isn’t practical for most backyard parties. Not only do you have to source the pig and find space for the roasting process, the cook time can take hours. Instead, use riffs on the roasted pig—like making pulled pork sliders on small Hawaiian rolls. Or, grill Huli Huli Chicken, which involves grilling chicken thighs marinated in a delicious mix of brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic and ginger. An added upside to Huli Huli Chicken is that, because it can be cooked off on the grill, you’ll be outside mingling with your guests while it comes together, not stuck in a hot kitchen.
As far as side dishes, put pineapple skewers on the grill to bring out the carmelized sweetness of the tropical fruit. And give Hawaiian Macaroni Salad a try. It’s perfect because it’s a dish you can easily make ahead of time, with the flavors developing the longer it sits.
Keep plates, cups and utensils in the same color palette as the rest of your decor—hot pink, turquoise, orange, yellow and neon green. Bonus points if you can find plastic drinkware in the shape of coconuts or pineapples that guests can use during the party, but also take home as a souvenir.
Dress to Impress: Hawaiian-Themed Party Edition
When you get an invitation to an event, what’s one of the first questions you ask yourself (other than whether or not you’re free to attend)? It’s what you’re going to wear, of course. Take the guesswork out of this for your guests by offering some suggestions.
For a luau or a Hawaiian-themed party, think along the lines of Hawaiian shirts, floral dresses or even grass skirts if you think your friends are up for it. If you’re hosting by the water (even a pool), you can also encourage swimsuits.
And for those who show up in attire that is decidedly not very island-ready? Provide leis or flower clips (or both!) when guests arrive so they can get into the spirit of the party without having to purchase a whole new ensemble.
As far as footwear, leave the fancy stuff at home. This party is all about flip-flops, sandals or even going barefoot. You want the vibe to be relaxed and casual, not stuffy and pretentious. After all, you’d much rather have guests enjoying themselves rather than blisters accumulating because of their fashion-forward heels.
Create a Tiki Bar Vibe For a Grownup Birthday Party
It’s almost impossible to think of Hawaii without envisioning yourself sipping a fabulous drink from a coconut shell (maybe topped with a tiny paper umbrella?). If this is a 21+ affair, crafting a dedicated tiki bar is a must. And it doesn’t have to be difficult, either. In fact, it can be as simple as wrapping a brown grass table skirt around an existing outdoor bar, or even just a folding table.
Some cocktails to have on hand include:
- Mai Tai: 1 oz light rum, 1 oz dark rum 1/2 oz orange curaçao (or triple sec), 1/2 oz lime juice (preferably fresh) and 1/2 oz orgeat syrup (also known as almond syrup, which you can find at liquor or specialty stores)
- Blue Hawaiian: 1 oz light rum, 1 oz blue curaçao, 2 oz pineapple juice and 1 oz cream of coconut
- Pina Colada: 2 oz light rum, 1 oz cream of coconut, 1 oz coconut milk or coconut water and 2 oz pineapple juice—blend this with a cup of ice
Keep in mind that, of course, not all of your guests drink alcohol so include some mocktails at your tiki bar as well. Pina Coladas are certainly delicious without the rum, and a Hawaiian Sunset Mocktail is incredibly refreshing. It includes 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup orange juice and a splash of grenadine. Trust that your friends will love it. Keep water (sparkling and still) on hand to make sure everyone is hydrated. And even if you think you have plenty of ice, if a friend offers to grab more, take them up on it. After all, it gets hot in the tropics!
Capture Memories With a Photo Booth
A picture is worth a thousand words, and of course you’ll want memories of this epic Hawaiian theme party. There’s no need to rent an actual photo booth for your event. Rather, you can create your own photo spot for guests to gather and take snaps throughout the party.
Hang an island-worthy backdrop that either features a beach, grass skirts or a tiki bar against a fence or exterior wall of your home. You can either leave out props, like pineapples, sunglasses and coconuts, or just let guests have fun coming up with their own photo configurations. If you happen to have a surfboard or boogie board on hand, leave that out, too!
Come up with your own personal hashtag so that when friends share their pics on social media, they can easily tag you so that a collection of memories is at your fingertips long after everyone has left.
Festive Hawaiian Theme Party Ideas Will Elevate Any Celebration
By using one or more of the Hawaiian themed party ideas above, you’ll be hosting an event that will make everyone feel like they’ve just returned from the most fun vacation ever. Of course first impressions are important, and the best way to spread the word (and the theme) is with the invitations. Greetings Islands specializes in offering an impressive variety of invitations for all of life’s occasions, from birthdays to retirements and beyond. Be sure to browse our invitation collection today and lock in the guest list for your luau before social calendars fill up.
Photo by: Emily Shirron, Valeriia Miller, Curated Lifestyle, Cristofer Maximilian, Lee Vue on UnSplash
