A luau is a Hawaiian party with food, music, and entertainment. Traditional food includes Kalua pig, seafood, and barbecue. Dessert is haupia, and drinks are tropical cocktails. Decorate with tropical flowers, tiki torches, and traditional music. Add fun activities like hula or limbo. Relax and have fun!
A luau is a Hawaiian party involving food, music and entertainment. These relaxed get-togethers are a great way to while away a summer evening or host a casual graduation, birthday, or even wedding. To host a great luau for friends and family, all you have to do is create an atmosphere straight from the beaches of Hawaii.
Traditional luau food features a variety of seafood and meats. Most often seen in commercial luaus is the famous Kalua pig. For authentic Kalua pork, a whole salted and cured pig must be buried in an underground oven called an imu and slow cooked for many hours. If your garden doesn’t contain an imu or you find it difficult to bring home a whole pig, consider making an alternative dish, such as pineapple glazed ham. Barbecue is a staple of the luaus, so fire up the grill and prepare your favorite dish.
The dessert at a luau is traditionally haupia, a coconut custard similar to flan or crème brulee. This delicious dessert is available as a packaged mix at some grocery stores. To make your own version, simply add coconut flavoring to any standard vanilla custard recipe. You may want to add toasted coconut flakes on top as a garnish.
In terms of drinks, the sky’s the limit with tropical concoctions. Blend ice with coconut cream and pineapple juice for a non-alcoholic piña colada. For an alcoholic kick, pick a drink or two that sounds exciting to you and make pitchers of them. Blue Hawaii, Lava Flow, Tiki Ti, Fishbowl Punch, and Mai Tais are all colorful island cocktails. Many party supply stores sell inexpensive tiki mugs or coconut shells to use as tumblers.
To set the mood at your luau, try using traditional Hawaiian ukulele or slack key guitar music. A popular Hawaiian artist is late brother Iz, a famous singer and musician, whose music is easily available online. If you have soundscape compilations that feature ocean or jungle sounds, you might want to add them as wallpapers. Setting the mood with music is a great way to break the ice between guests and bring islands into your backyard.
For decor, consider buying some tropical flowers to place in vases or as centerpieces. Orchids, birds of paradise and plumeria are all colorful Hawaiian flowers. You might even consider giving wreaths to your guests as party favors. The fresh floral versions, which are beautiful and fragrant, start around $30 US dollars (USD). For a casual luau, reach for garlands of fake or plastic flowers, which are available at most party supply stores and generally cost less than a dollar apiece.
Tiki torches are a popular way to light up your luau and add an island feel. These torches burn on oil or propane and prices start around $10 USD. If you’re using an open flame outdoors, be sure to keep a fire extinguisher nearby and clear the area of any dry plants or debris that could catch fire. Some newer models of outdoor flashlights use solar-powered lamps instead and may be a safer option for a children’s party.
With the basics taken care of, make the luau authentically yours by choosing a fun activity for party-goers. Consider a hula competition or make the party retro 1960s by playing limbo. Fill a kid’s pool with water and invite guests to “fish” for waterproof party favors. These extra touches are fun, but unnecessary. Luaus are supposed to be places for relaxation and easy entertainment, so make it your first priority to have fun.
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