Summer Fun: Throw a Kids' Luau Party

Summer heat brings tropical dreams of palm trees and ocean breezes--but even if you can't make it to the islands you can still enjoy a fun summer luau. A kids' summer luau party can be oodles of fun, and they're easy to plan on any budget.

First things first, choose a location. The great thing about a kids' summer luau party is that you can hold it just about anywhere: at the beach, the park, the pool, or your own backyard. If it happens to rain, a luau can easily be moved indoors with some fun luau decorations.

The choices are endless when it comes to luau-themed decorations. For kids' summer party ideas, check out online party supply stores such as Luau Express, Birthday Express, and Oriental Trading. You can find decorations and favors at your local party store, or at budget-friendly discount stores like Big Lots (grass skirts for $4 and a set of leis for only $3). Some of the best deals can be found at dollar stores where luau items--you guessed it-- cost just $1 apiece: brightly-colored coconut cups, plastic leis, melamine tropical-theme plates, Aloha banners, palm tree centerpieces, and more.

When it comes to setting the stage for a luau, you can go all out with Tiki huts, statues, and potted palms, or keep it simple with a raffia skirt for your buffet table and kitschy inflatable palm trees. You can even throw a SpongeBob Luau party for little kids. Capture the island mood with fun, Hula girl or Luau partyware from Birthday Express (you'll enjoy the one-stop shopping and easy clean-up). Plastic pineapple or coconut cups, palm tree centerpieces, tiki torches, and a string of tiki lights or pineapple lights add a festive touch.

Now that the table is set, serve up some fun luau food. Technically, a luau is a Hawaiian feast, but for your children's summer luau party it's unlikely that you'll be serving traditional menu items like kalua pig and Mai Tais! Think kid-friendly treats like tropical fruit smoothies, fruit kabobs, coconut chicken, Hawaiian pizza, goldfish crackers, with coconut pudding and volcano cake for dessert.

Plan fun activities for your young guests. Little ones will enjoy Pin the Coconut on the Palm Tree, coconut bowling, a palm tree or parrot pinata, and water play. Older kids might enjoy lei-making, decorating flip flops, hula dancing, and limbo. Keep your limbo game fun and bump-free with an inflatable limbo stick. They're easy to store and reuse at next year's luau.

Thank your summer party guests with festive summer and luau-themed favors, such as leis, sunglasses, bubbles, and grass skirts. You can purchase pre-made luau and hula-themed favor boxes: for girls, a Hula girl pack with a plush flower coin purse, crab squirter, gummy candy, a flower notepad, crayons, and a Hula sticker sheet. For boys, the Luau favor box includes a parrot beanbag, fish squirt gun, Hawaiian shirt notepad and crayons, and luau stickers.

With a little fun planning, you can make your kids' summer luau party unforgettable from the first Aloha to the last!