Say Mahalo to Summer with a luau celebration

As the start of school nears, show gratitude for lazy summer days with an epic luau celebration! It’s a perfect theme for your last hurrah.

Let’s Eat!

No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen on a hot, sunny day. Make easy (but festive) foods like ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls or kebabs with cubed ham, pineapple and cherry tomatoes. Side dishes could include macaroni salad, fried rice or fruit salad. For dessert, serve pineapple upside down cupcakes or let kids make mini fresh fruit pizzas on sugar cookies. For no fuss and more traditional fare such as huli huli chicken, manapua (pork bao) and spam musubi, consider ordering from a local Hawaiian restaurant such as Kalei’s Kitchenette in Rancho Peñasquitos or Homestyle Hawaiian (several locations).

Games & Activities

Find the Tikis

Fill tiki-themed cups or party bags with prizes and hide them around the yard. Or, write a number on the bottom of each and offer a different prize for each number. Alternatively, you could use this game as a way to divide the group into teams for the limbo (same numbers or same colored leis inside the bags indicate teammates).

Hot Pineapple

Fill yellow water balloons with water. Like the game of hot potato, players sit in a circle, passing a water balloon around as music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the balloon has to either pop the balloon in his lap or remove himself from the game. Play continues until there is one very lucky (or very wet) player left.

Classic Limbo

Wrap a broomstick with ribbon or crepe paper to use as a limbo stick. Play the song “Limbo Rock” and watch participants pass under the stick as someone holds each end. After everyone has been through, lower the stick and watch them go under again. If a player brushes the stick with any part of their body, that person is out.

Hula Hoop Contest

See how long party guests can keep their hoops spinning. Variations include spinning in the opposite direction or spinning a hoop on your arm. An advanced version includes playing Simon Says while hooping (stand on one leg, clap hands and other simple commands).

Slay the Pig

Use a funnel to insert small prizes and confetti into large pink balloons. Fill balloons with air and tie closed. Draw a pig face on the balloons and attach them to a fence, wall or garage door. To slay the pigs, players use bean bags or darts to pop balloons and claim prizes.

Photo Booth

Set up a festive photo op background with party lights and cardboard cutouts. Offer guests a variety of items to wear such as leis, sunglasses, grass skirts, beachcomber hats, flowers and sarongs. Choose a hashtag for your party and share your photos on social media!

Want to experience an authentic luau? You can do so right here in San Diego! Sunset Luaus on Mission Bay take place at the Catamaran Resort every Tuesday and Friday evening through August 30. Attendess enjoy awesome performances by Pride of Polynesia, a lei, all-you-can-eat buffet, kids craft corner, and a mai tai for adults.

Crafts

Pineapple Succulent

Have guests paint a small terra-cotta pot yellow to look like a pineapple. Once it dries, add a succulent inside each pot to look like the pineapple crown.

Mini Surfboard Decor

Purchase blank paper surfboards (or small wooden ones) online for guests to color or paint and decorate with stickers, glitter or gems. Mini wooden surfboards can also be made into keychains or bookmarks.

Beach Art

Have each guest paint a piece of cardboard various shades of blue to look like the ocean. Once it’s dry, add a layer of glue to half the cardboard and sprinkle sand over it to resemble a beach. Finish by gluing mini shells, tiny sticks or pebbles to the sand. Frame your beach scene or turn into a shadowbox. v

Pam Molnar is an avid party planner and mother of three. She believes every party has good food, fun games and a theme.