Need help with a Hawaiian luau party as a sweet 16 this summer?
Need help with a Hawaiian luau party as a sweet 16 this summer?
hey! i’m having a sweet 16 luau party. very hawaiian/tropical theme. i need party ideas.
about my party:
this will take place early august in nj. it will be in my backyard with about 20 people. where we live about that time of the year, the sun goes down around 8 o’clock. the party starts at 4 and ends at 11.
what will take place:
the limbo
hoola hoop contests
relaxing by the pool
supplies:
silk flower leis
painted shells with guests’ names on them
grass skirts
flamingo or palm tree table covers
beach balls
umbrella
sunscreen
blow up palm trees
plastic fish bowls filled with water, sand and rocks with a flower on top
tiki torches
beach chairs
towels
straws with umbrellas in them
aloha banner
palm tree center pieces
luau confetti
6 disposable cameras (would this be enough for 15/20 people?)!
plastic silverware with a tie and flower around each
sunglasses
blow up ukuleles
plastic tiki cups where i can write the guests’ name on
fish net to drape around the back deck. here, there will be pictures of me growing up (mom & best friends are making me =/- what kind of pix should i pick out?), a list of all the guests names translated into hawaiian, pictures of hawaii, fake fish and shells…
a paper surf board about 3 feet tall which people can sign on their way in.
food/drinks:
fruit kabobs
pineapples
strawberries
bananas
apples
watermelon
grapes
Hawaiian pizza
goldfish?
hawaiian punch
virgin pina coladas
virgin strawberry daquiris
i’m making chocolate covered strawberries, marshmallows and pretzels for dessert.
what kind of candy should i have to give out? i was thinking… air heads, gum, jolly ranchers, skittles, sour patch, sweet tarts, nerds, sweetish fish….
my invitation will be a cutout surfboard with the info on it.
In the beginning of the party (once everyone is there) I am going to have my mom take a picture of all us kiddies. Then, she can print up as many pictures there are guests, put in a frame and have me give it to them as they exit. The pictures from the disposable cameras will be developed with some made copies so that I can give these out in the Thank You cards that will be mailed a week later.
these are some of the Hawaiian songs i was thinking:
Liliu E Lei Momi
It’s Just An Old Hawaiian Custom
My Little Grass Shack
Sweet Leilani
Hukilau
Hawaiian Hula Eyes
Little Brown Gal
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Beyond The Reef
On The Beach
My Yellow Ginger
Hawaiian War Chant
Lovely Hula Hands Lei Momi
Aloha Oe
The Hula Hoop Song
Surfing USA
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride
Don Ho
EDM
John Cruz-"Hurricane," "Shine On," "Sitting in Limbo," "Island Style"
Hawaiian Style Band-"Live a Little"
Sean Na’auao-"Fish & Poi"
Jake Shimabukuro-"Angel," "Bodysurfing," "Floaters"
Na Leo-"Local Boys," "Hawaiian Eyes," "’E Hihiwai"
Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom-"Haleiwa Hula"
Na Wai – Oh Boy
Koauka – One Woman Man
Maoli – No One
Ka’ena – You Say
Koauka – Up, Down, Side to Side
Living in a Sovereign Land by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
E ala E by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo`ole
Hokule’a Star of Gladness by IZ
Sweet Cherry Bomb by Nuff Sedd
Drop Baby Drop by The Manao Company
Kaulana Na Pua – Na Waihooluu o ke (Na Wai)
Why You – Na Wai Featuring Fiji
Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’ole – Ulili E
Keali’i Reichel – E O Mai- ‘Auhea Wale Ana ‘Oe
Rebel Souljahz – Darling Angel
^are these good?
i would also like to hire a hula dancer or flame thrower to perform and be at the party for about a 1/2 hour, but it might be a lot of money. how much do you think it would cost? is there even anyone who would do that in new jersey? if you are one/know anyone in central nj, please let me know!
am i missing anything? i want this party to really be perfect! even the littlest idea is appreciated!
need help with:
ideas about food
other Hawaiian drinks
decoration ideas
MUSIC IDEAS!
thanks in advance!!
(by the way, i’m NOT some stuck up 16 year old girl who’s parents pay for everything like most teenage girls in this country. this is all my money, my parents just agreed to let me have the party.)
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4 comments
♥nanichica on March 6, 2010 at 4:37 am
the songs are pretty good and i see some of my favs in their too :]
(im listening 2 darling angel right now:])
i also suggest some other artists and song too:
J boog-Love Season
O-shen-Tropically FIne
Sudden Rush-Hi’ilawe
Ho’okoa-Never Leave Your Side
Lowie Boy-K.I.S.S.I.N.G
Katchafire-Love Letter
Three Plus-Honey Baby
Lagea Savea-Take Me Away
Three Houses Down-Island Lullaby
Aaradhna and Adeze-Gettin Stronger
(the last 2 are from NZ but pop in Hawaii)
Check for your local seafood place ofr ahi if it is not too expensive and virgin mai tais and for food, maybe try to find a recipe to make some haupia cheesecake or Spam musubi.
For candy, try to get gummy candy and put this ling hui mong powder (its a pop snack in Hawaii)
and maybe as a suprise maybe you can try to learn to hula dance to
a song(Hawaiian Hula Eyes is agood beginner song) by Youtubing the dance song up
hopefully i helped you a tiny bit :]
Redhead on March 6, 2010 at 4:37 am
Wow, you can plan a party for me anytime. Do not think you are missing much. That said…Best song would be Elvis singing "Blue Hawaii" but did not see that on your list. Also, in Hawaii luaus that we attended consisted of roast pig, bb chicken, poi, baked beans, corn on the cob, together with fruit, etc. Scratch the chocolate covered fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, etc., as that is not Hawaiian, no candy handouts either. Use the fruit kabobs as dessert. Also scratch the fake fish or fish in bowls use birds instead such as parrots, etc., Suggest you have guests wear Hawaiian or tropical outfits/costume so you would not have the expense of grass skirts, etc. Put a lei on each as they arrive and give them a kiss as a welcome to your party. Sometimes less is more as I think you might be overdoing some things, decorations, etc.
Paul in San Diego on March 6, 2010 at 4:37 am
Check out the Oriental Trading Company. They have all kinds of party decorations, including the luau ones you listed.
Kyle S on March 6, 2010 at 4:37 am
okay, first of all, drop all the candies and the non-tropical fruit and try to replace them with more citris fruits and maybe some coconuts here and there simply for decoration. go with more traditional hawaiian luau foods like roast pig, huli huli chicken, poi, poke and for anyone brave enough, spam musubi.
also, keep the drinks, but also add some guava juice-based cocktails to the list.
have everyone come with casual wear (cargo shorts, flip flops etc) to bypass on the whole cheesy grass skirt deal. also make hawaiian shirts mandatory, im pretty sure they’re easy to find, even in jersey.
im digging the music list, but you may want to throw in some jack johnson songs just for a more mellow feel to the whole experience.
and just for the hell of it, see if you can’t find a few small tiki statues to place randomly in the background, they are subtle, but they (along with the tiki torches) really do complete the luau look.