How to Throw a Tropical Backyard Luau

With a few inexpensive supplies and a little creativity, you can whip up a tropical-filled party paradise for guests to enjoy this summer without ever leaving your backyard.

July 07, 2021

By: Sam Henderson

Related To:

Summer Luau Fun

A Hawaiian luau is a fun, tropical and casual get-together, birthday or summer party theme idea to enjoy with family and friends. Keep it simple and encourage lots of play with these luau-themed decor, menu and activity ideas, including how to make a DIY limbo bar game.

Create Colorful Invitations

Make or buy simple invitation cards with the party's date, time and location. Stick with bright, cheerful colors and tropical patterns. Send your invitations out at least two weeks in advance.

Give Your Party Direction

Make your guests' lives a tad easier and avoid confusion by having directional signage for important locations and activities. This simple sign was made with thin project boards and letters printed on craft paper and glued to the board. The boards were nailed to an old 2x4 and inserted into a bucket of sand accented with a hula skirt.

Stick With a Simple Menu

Luaus are an active kind of party. Make it easy for your guests to take their food on the go with small bites on picks or skewers.

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Serve Tropical Drinks

Offer a variety of specialized, tropical-themed drinks for the occasion. Where applicable, make large batches and put them in a pitcher so the need for a "bartender" will be minimized. Add a simple sign to inform guests of the options.

Get Ideas: Big-Batch Summer Cocktails That Serve a Crowd

Keep Guests Hydrated

Make sure everyone stays hydrated in the summer sun with plenty of water. Feeling extra crafty? Make simple water bottle labels to replace the originals.

Serve Grab-and-Go Style

Allow guests to help themselves by setting up a buffet food table. Tropical fruits, chips and small bites on skewers are perfect for self-serving. Above the table, colorful paper lanterns hang for added decoration.

Pineapple Whip Dessert Recipe

This super simple treat is a sure hit. Add two 15-ounce drained cans of pineapple chunks, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup heavy cream and a pinch of salt to a food processor and blend until smooth. Process in an ice cream maker until slushy. Whip one cup of heavy cream to soft peaks, then fold the whipped cream into pineapple mixture. Serve immediately or freeze for an ice cream texture.

Add a S’mores Station

Consider a fire pit area to keep guests warm when the sun goes down and for, of course, a s'more station. Include graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate candy. For a kick of Hawaiian flare, add shredded coconut to the mix.

Designate a Recycle Area

Make it easy for guests to help you recycle by creating a clearly designated spot for all recyclables. Decorate the station with a themed sign and luau decor.

Get Ready to Limbo

To make a DIY limbo game, cut a 2"x10' PVC pipe in half with a box saw (Image 1). Next, cut a 1/4"x4' dowel into 12 equal 4-inch pieces (Image 2). Drill 6 holes with a 1/4-inch bit every 5 inches, starting from the top of each PVC pipe. The holes should go through both sides of the PVC. Insert a dowel piece into each of the holes (Image 3). Fill two galvanized buckets with sand (Image 4). Insert the PVC into the sand with the dowel pieces at the top.

Add the Pole

Cut a 1-inch piece of PVC pipe to about 6-7 feet long. Lay it across the dowels at the top of the pole to begin play.

How Low Can You Go?

Take turns going under the limbo bar, lowering the bar with each round. If you knock the bar off, you're out!

Props for Kids

Provide playful tiki masks for the kids to have fun with and keep after the night is over. Buy masks from a party store, remove the elastic and glue to a popsicle stick for instant props.

Have a Hula Station

Even if you don't have hula dancers on hand, a hula hoop station is a great way to get everyone moving and have loads of fun while doing so.

Music Sets the Stage

Put together a playlist of authentic Hawaiian music and ukulele classics to play throughout the party and set the tropical mood. Or, opt for a live band for an added "wow" factor.

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Photo By: Photo by Sam Henderson