With the warmer weather of spring and more time outdoors the idea of parties and gatherings with friends and family come readily to mind. An idea that’s never far from my mind is a Hawaiian Luau. After living three years in the Hawaiian Islands I am a believer in the magic of a Luau. But how can we create the magic of a Luau without the glam of the Hawaiian islands or without being cheesy and putting up cardboard tropical cut outs?
 Creativity is key along with the time and effort to make the magic happen. Because I am an island girl at heart friends and family send me tips they find on creating a tropical environment and if they aren’t sending ideas I’m digging them up on the Internet. Last week my cousin Dawn found a fabulous one. She sent me a link to a DIY set of tropical patio lights that are beautiful, simple and elegant, no plastic fish or fake shells, nothing but the real deal!
For me a Luau is created best by mood so I begin with simple and elegant options. Music is a key ingredient to any Luau and I have my personal favorites in Hawaiian music, among them Keali’i Reichel, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters. The best part is that each of these has listening samples on their respective Amazon page so click away to check out the sounds of the islands.
Island music is wafting through the air and your outdoor patio is looking pretty nice, but decidedly not tropical, so what will brighten it up and give it a Hawaiian isle feel? How about creating some pillows and cushion covers in an authentic Hawaiian pattern from the Hawaiian Fabric Shop? They have an awesome selection of Hawaiian fabrics for every taste. With a plan in mind for covering the patio cushions you realize that you need an infusion of tropical foliage. Home Depot and Lowes are a great place to start. Here you can find a variety of great looking tropical plants and flowers, from potted Orchids that will do well later in your steamy bathroom to gardenias that bring the scent of the islands home with their sweet smell. Â
Little touches make treasured memories so what about table place cards made with a tropical post card or Hawaiian photo placed in a island style frame that your guests can take home to enjoy later, with their personal photo memories of the party. Another idea is a special wine glass that your guests can keep to savor the memory of your special Hawaiian evening.  The possibilities are limited only by your creativity and budget. Now I will grant you that these two particular ideas are not cheapies, but certainly cheaper options do exist and could certainly be implemented. A less expensive option would be using a large shell for each table place card with a colorful cut out for names glued to the shell. Most of us either have great sea shells from former trips or have a Michaels or JoAnns nearby where bags of great shells can be purchased reasonably.
 A colorful table display could be a grouping of fresh tropical fruits such as pineapple, papaya, starfruit or coconuts. A few silk or regular palm fronds added in with the fruit gives guests an immediate paradise feel. Candles that are scented with authentic tropical smells add another blaze of tropical feel to the party. I particularly liked that Island Candle Company is from the Hawaiian Islands, so the candles are authentic and have true island scents. Another great table decor idea is to use large glass jars or bowls and fill them with sand, shells and a pillar candle. Instantly you have an island feel and a soft, beautiful addition to any table.
An absolutely essential element to a Hawaiian Luau is the food and drinks your guests will enjoy. For some great authentic Hawaiian recipes you can visit Sam Choy’s website. He is a popular Hawaiian chef who has several restaurants around Hawaii. On his personal site there are a variety of island recipes worth a taste! For additional Luau insight and history check out this Wikipedia link to Luau’s. No matter what your party experience level, a Luau is possible with an open mind, a lot of creativity and the time and energy to allow magic to happen.
Photo Credit Flickr Luau Dancer by: Sparky Leigh
Photo Credit Flickr Tropical Fruit Bowl By: opdstudent