This is the party that your friends will be talking about for months to come. Use some of our fabulous recipes to set a tropical mood. Don't forget classic fun like volleyball, and water games in the pool. A limbo contest is a natural at any luau. Use a pole, broomstick, or if everyone is already in their bathing suit, a stream of water from your hose is a great way to cool off and limbo at the same time. Hold treasure hunts in the sand or in the pool, build sand castles or hold a hula contest. There is no limit to the fun and excitement having this party by the pool can generate. Don't have a pool? Try renting the community center, take the party to the lake or ocean, or just set up some crazy flower sprinklers and kiddie pools!

Now read on for quick, but striking invitation ideas, games, recipes, and fun for you and your kids!

Invitations
To invite your friends, make an invitation on colored paper, or buy one with a tropical theme.

Tie the invitation to a flower lei, or grass skirt, and ask your guests to dress for the occasion! If you want to go all out, go to http://www.hisurf.com/hawaiian/names.html and find your guests “Hawaiian name”, and write it on the invitation!

Decorations
The beauty of this outdoor party is: EASY DECORATING! Bamboo torches everywhere set the mood in the evening, as well as floating candles in the pool. If you don’t have a pool, set up large bowls around the property on tables, just make sure they are sturdy and secure.

Chinese lanterns, tissue flowers and pineapples, Hawaiian themes cutouts will make your guests think they just set foot off the plane.

And don’t forget the Hawaiian music! TIP: if you do not want to listen to the Ukulele for the next year, don’t BUY music, but borrow from friends or borrow from your library!

TIP : Traditional Luau food should be served from one long buffet table.

GAMES : Pass the Coconut
The players sit in a circle with one player holding a coconut. The music (a Hawaiian tune) begins and the coconut is passed around the circle until the music stops. The player holding the coconut when the music stops is out. The music begins again and the play continues until there is only one player left.

Build a Sandcastle
Unless you live on a beach, you will need to bring in some sand. Borrow a few kiddie pools and fill them with beach sand. Wet the sand well the night before. Divide your guests into teams and see which group can build the best castle. Use the left over sand to build your children a sand box! They will love you for it! After the contest, destroy the castles and go on the Treasure hunt!

Treasure Hunt
Now that you have the sand, why not bury small party favors and send the children looking for "buried treasure. Without sandboxes, make a map with clues that will lead the children to the hidden goodies around the party area.

Family Hula Contest
Give each child a rope, some crepe paper, safety scissors, and let them design a Hula Skirt for themselves and their parents. Show them how to cut the paper, wrap around the rope, and tie a knot. When finished, just tie the ropes around the dancers waist. Then provide some Hula Hoops, turn up the music, and swing those hips! The family with the most Hulas swinging in the end wins!

Flamingo Races
Two Flamingo Air Walkers
Two pieces of light weight cardboard,
both the same size.
Two pieces of rope or string about
2 feet long.

Inflate the Flamingos with Helium. Be sure to weight the feet with the large paperclips enclosed. Choose two guests to participate in te race. On even ground, place the two pieces of rope about 15 to 20 yards apart. Have both contestants line up behind one of the rops. At the signal, each contestant uses the cardboard to fan the Flamingo to the finish line. Contestants may not tough the flamingo with anything, only fan with the cardboard. The first flamingo across the finish line wins.

RECIPES : Easy Punch
Let the kids help with this colorful and fruity beverage.
1 can Hawaiian Punch
1/2 gallon pineapple sherbert
2 - 2 liter bottle of ginger ale
Freeze a can of Hawaiian Punch fruit juice until slushy. Pour into punch bowl. Add 1/2 gallon pineapple sherbet and two bottles of ginger ale.

Aloha Salad
You'll look forward to the oriental flavor in this easy tropical salad.

Prep./Cook 20 minutes

1/3 cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sesame seed oil
1 package ramen noodles (shrimp flavored)
1 cup green scallions chopped
1/3 cup slivered almonds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 head of napa cabbage shredded

Remove flavor packet from the ramen noodles. Leave the noodles in the package and break them up into small pieces. Place noodles, almonds and sesame seeds on a baking tray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until browned.

Mix together oil, segar, vinegar, salt, pepper, scallions and ramen flavor packet with the napa cabbage. Add noodle mixture to dressing and pour over cabbage.

Erupting Volcano Cake
Bake your favorite cake in an ovenproof bowl, then hollow a well in the top for the lava!

1 small, short juice glass to fit into the well with the top even or below the trop of the cake.
1 small box of Jell-O
1 small bottle lemon juice
1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda

Make Jell-O according to package directions.

Let cool 15 minutes.

Fill juice glass 1/2 full with the warm Jell-O. (Not hot). Pour in enough lemon juice so that it is 1/2" from the top.

Place glass down into the well on the top of the cake.

Place cake on a table and when everyone is ready, put 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda onto the glass and briefly stir. Jell-O "lava" will immediately pour out the top of the glass and flow down the sides of the cake.

For some additional recipes ideas, or to plan your complete Luau menu, see these

Websites:

http://mauicc.hawaii.edu/unit/fser/recipes/hawaii.html

http://www.hisurf.com/Recipes.html

HAPPY HULAING!

Heike Boehnke-Sharp is a WAHM, and the owner of http://www.fantasticfests.com/, a one stop party shop. For a complete Luau party plan, or many other occasions & themes, party supplies (yes, there is a complete LUAU section!), favors, decorations, and much more, visit her website