Sweet 16 Luau

Luaus are colorful and fun, and the food is fabulous. So, if you ask me, I think planning a luau is a great way to have a party. Limbo on down the page and check it out...

Sweet 16 Luau Invitations
Use a personalized luau invitation and include a silk flower comb for your girlfriends and a rafia arm tie for the guys. Tell them they must wear the enclosed pieces on their bodies somewhere, and that you want them to dress luau-creative. That will get them talking long before the party!

If you want to send a spectacular invitation, consider a semi-custom caricature invitation. Using art that has already been drawn, we can add a photo face or a caricature face and personalize the message for you! You can use the design for other fun elements in your Sweet 16 luau, including centerpieces, a welcome sign, thank you notes, and much more!

Sweet 16 luau supplies and birthday decorations
To make a grand entrance, place bamboo Tiki torches and inflatable palm trees outside your door as the first indication to your guests that this is going to be the luau to remember. You may even want to adorn your porch rail or doorway with tropical lights for a festive effect.

Add a CD player with island music to create the perfect atmosphere. If you are really adventurous and can stand the ridicule and neighbor gossip, use pink flamingos to adorn your front yard or line them up the driveway or front sidewalk.

Use netting as your backdrop. Have a big basket of multi-color leis inside the door where people can help themselves to a few. I would plan on 5 or 6 per person so that they can be creative and festive with their leis. If you think you have the time, stand at the door and greet everyone with a lei--this is always a nice gesture and a traditional way of saying aloha. Or just leave a basket by the door with leis and personalized cameras in it. Put a note on the basket urging them to wear them wherever they please, and to take lots of pictures. This will make for fun photo opportunities (you can develop the film and send the pictures later as a "thank you" for attending the party).

The backyard is just as fun to decorate as the rest of the house, so don’t neglect this space if weather permits or if you plan to expand the party outside. Light up luau lanterns might be a nice touch, whether inside or in the back yard. Tribal masks are fun, too. Hang wind chimes and wooden parrots to give a complete background to your setting. Shells, sand and silk hibiscus flowers are in order here as well. If you really want to go crazy, rent realistic looking fake palm trees and wooden totem poles to place around the yard/patio. Bamboo torch candles are a must, but don’t forget the citronella candles.

If you are assigning seats or if you want to give out nametags (and this is wise when you have a lot of friends that don't know each other), here’s a thought: flip flops. You know, the rubber kind you wear on your feet with a flower in the center? They make for a great nametag or seating card. Just write the name in magic marker, add a 25¢ chain or ribbon (necklace) and voila--a humorous way to get people talking about your creativity and their flip flops. Line them up alphabetically on a table near the entrance.

Another thought on this is to use starfish or sand dollars and write the name of the person on it. For nametags, string some ribbon around it.

Fill the room with balloons in tropical colors (great as bouquets tied to a "real" pineapple), and flowers and you'll have a party to remember.

Sweet 16 Luau Table and Menu
Use a light up raffia table skirt around the buffet table to bring Hawaii right inside your home. Use a green plastic or linen tablecloth over the buffet and pin the skirting to the edges. Add 20" palm centerpieces. Use beachcomber hats (multi-color or plain) upside down to hold different snacks and munchies. Throw fabulous foil-wrapped chocolate fish across your table. Your guests will really WOW at your thoughtfulness and carry-through. Provide tropical toothpicks as a final touch. Use baskets on each buffet to hold luncheon napkins, luau-themed plates, cutlery and cups. You may even want to get matching guest towels for your powder room! Check out these luau themed paper goods.

A hula girl balloon in a bucket of sand makes a unique centerpiece. Don't forget to add luau confetti and more foil wrapped chocolate fish around the buckets. Make sure to use tropical colors for your tablecloths--yellow, green, hot pink, melon, orange and bright blue. Add your own seashells, maracas and sand. Another great ideas is to use a Tiki piñata as your centerpieces or if you prefer, hang them above the tables.

A tiki bar cooler (filled with drinks) makes for a great decoration and is something different than the norm. The first drink should be served complete with tropical straws and luau drink skirts. You may want to add some Tiki candles to create some atmosphere--and you may want to add some tropical lights around the bar as well. Don’t forget the all-important coconut cups!

Serve tropical foods:

• Sweet and sour meatballs
• Cinnamon chips with pineapple salsa
• Sweet potatoes
• Chicken long rice
• Poi
• Beef teriyaki
• Hawaiian chicken with ham and pineapple
• Chocolate cake and/or coconut cake

Sweet 16 Luau Games and Activities
A luau should have authentic Hawaiian dancers, hire the hula and fire-eating kind. Oh, and one last thing--don't forget to do the limbo! All you need is an official limbo kit (two poles and a limbo stick!)

Another common activity at a Sweet 16 party is the candle lighting ceremony. Checkout out the Sweet 16 Candle Lighting Ceremony Guide if you need instructions. And don't forget to check out our complete list of Sweet 16 Party Games!

Luau Party Favors
Hand out a special party favor your friends will be talking about long after the sun goes down. Here are some fun ideas:

• Sweet 16 Luau Candy Bars - A personalized candy bar in milk or dark chocolate, what could be better than that?
• Leis - choose from any number in any number of colors. Put them in a basket at the door or hand them out (dressed as a hula girl or boy!)…
• Flower Hair Bands and wrist leis - the final touch in the lei department.
• Beachcomber Hats - in straw, in neon—what more could you ask for!
• Tropical Beads - Accent your Luau Party with our tropical fruit beads.
• Glow Luau Literopes - from straws that glow in the dark (now that makes for interesting backyard evening luau, no?) to necklaces, earrings, these are the perfect favors.
• Hula Skirts - not the usual skirt but a metallic multi-color ones. True Hawaiians will be so jealous.
• Tiki Mask Glasses - not to mention rubber neon, animal print and more, sunglasses make a great favor and look terrific wrapped around the napkin to dress up your table.

From us here at Party411.com, have a super Sweet 16 luau!