Luau Party: 21 Best Ideas for an Island-Style Hawaiian Theme Party

A Luau Party is a celebration inspired by Hawaii with island decoration, tropical food and music. It’s a fun way to bring summer energy to any gathering, from a backyard BBQ, birthday party, or poolside hangout.

If you’re looking for Hawaiian theme party ideas, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll talk about 21 of the best ideas to plan your own Luau Party. It includes island-style decorations, mouth-watering food and drink options, dedicated outfit tips, and engaging games. So, let’s get started on how to throw a fun, tropical-themed event that everyone will enjoy.

Luau Party decoration ideas

Decorations are the first to think about when you want to set the mood for your Luau Party. We have some simple yet creative and fun ideas to turn your party space into Hawaii island.

1. Hula Hoop Garland

Hula hoops are the iconic image when we mention Hawaii, so it’s a great idea to make a garland out of these hoops. You can create a large hanging garland by wrapping colorful fabric, faux flowers, or vines around a hula hoop. You should hang it from the ceiling or place it against a wall as a photo backdrop. This is an easy DIY that adds a festive look to your Hawaiian theme party.

2. Tropical Balloons

When it comes to tropical balloons, you should go for bright-colored ones, such as those in shades like pink, orange, and teal. 

If you want a bold entrance for your Luau Party, let’s build a balloon arch at the front. 

Also, you can use helium to create a ceiling full of balloons. To make it more “tropical”, you can attach palm leaf cutouts or mini paper pineapples to the strings.

3. Hawaiian Flower Wall

How about making a flower wall full of hibiscus blooms?

You can glue artificial flowers onto a cardboard sheet or hang flower strands vertically. This decoration gives your guests a perfect photo spot at your Hawaiian theme party.

4. Tiki Torches

Tiki torches – the bamboo-style torches, will give off a tropical resort feel at your Luau Party, especially in the evening. Consider placing these tiki torches around the backyard or along the walkway that leads to the center of your party space.

5. Beach Ball Lanterns

How about hanging paper lanterns designed like beach balls? They will bring out a fun and playful vibe for your party. What’s special about this idea is that the balls can either be bought online or painted on your own using plain lanterns – at a low cost, apparently.

6. Palm Leaf Tablecloths

To bring the whole theme together, you should use palm leaf–printed tablecloths or runners. These instantly give your serving tables a tropical upgrade.

Delicious food ideas for a Luau Party

When it comes to a Luau Party menu, remember that you don’t need to cook anything fancy—just keep it colorful, tasty, and easy to share with these ideas:

7. Hawaiian BBQ Skewers

You can grill skewers with chunks of:

• Chicken
• Pineapple
• Bell peppers
• Red onions

A tip for making this dish sland-style flavor is to brush them with a sweet teriyaki glaze.

8. Coconut Shrimp

Crispy coconut shrimp is always a hit for any tropical party, and it fits perfectly with a Hawaiian theme party spread. You should serve it with sweet chili sauce or pineapple salsa on the side. 

9. Hawaiian Sliders

Burgers are small, easy to grab, and packed with flavor, so how about serving mini burgers in Hawaiian styles? 

You can make them with grilled pineapple, teriyaki-glazed beef, or pulled pork. Additionally, you should use sweet Hawaiian rolls for the buns. 

10. Tropical Fruit Salad

Let’s mix watermelon, mango, pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries in one colorful bowl to create delicious tropical fruit salad. You can sprinkle shredded coconut on top or serve the salad inside a hollowed-out pineapple for a Hawaiian vibe.

11. Ahi Poke Bowl

If you want to serve something more traditional at your Luau Party, you can prepare a simple ahi poke bowl. What should be included in this bowl are cubed tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, avocado, and rice. 

12. Pineapple Cupcakes

Vanilla cupcakes topped with pineapple-flavored frosting is always a good choice because they are easy to make ahead of time. You can add a small pineapple candy or slice on top of each to make these tropical treats even more cute.

13. Luau-Themed Cake

Next, let’s go all out with a Luau-themed cake in coconut or pineapple-flavored. You can decorate it with:

• Palm trees
• Wave shapes
• Hibiscus flowers,…

14. Pina Colada Popsicles

Frozen treats like popsicles are perfect for a warm day. You can make pina colada popsicles using coconut milk, pineapple juice, and a splash of rum, then freeze them in advance for easy serving.

15. Tropical Jello Shots

For the adults at your Luau Party, you can make jello shots using tropical flavors like mango, coconut, or passion fruit. Serve them in mini cups with tiny paper umbrellas or fruit slices.

Bonus Tip:

To make your food table extra fun, consider making food labels. 

You can easily create custom printed stickers (they can be either die-cut stickers or circle stickers) and stick them on toothpicks to label each dish. 

What should be on these labels? You can include the dish name and add Hawaiian designs like pineapples, surfboards, or hibiscus flowers. It’s a simple touch that helps guests know what they’re eating—and adds charm to your Hawaiian theme party setup.

Hawaiian-inspired drink ideas

Drinks are a must for setting the tropical vibe at your Luau Party, so here are some ideas:

16. Mai Tai Cocktails

You should definitely include Mai Tais if you’re planning a Hawaiian Theme Party for adults. This classic drink combines light and dark rum, lime juice, orange liqueur, and a bit of orgeat syrup. Serve it with crushed ice, mint, and a cherry for an island theme.

17. Blue Hawaiian Punch

If you want a fun and colorful non-alcoholic option, try Blue Hawaiian Punch. You can mix blue sports drinks, pineapple juice, and lemon-lime soda. Let’s serve it in clear cups with fruit slices or mini umbrellas—it’s perfect for kids or anyone skipping alcohol.

18. Coconut Water

Keep it simple with coconut water, chilled and served in fun glasses or real coconuts. You can add pineapple or lime slices for a fresh twist. It’s a great way to stay hydrated while enjoying your Luau Party under the sun.

Party favors for a hawaiian theme party

Don’t forget to prepare some fun and thoughtful party favors as a nice way to thank your guests when the Luau Party ends.

19. Hawaiian Lei Necklaces

You can’t go wrong with a classic. Lei necklaces are colorful, affordable, and immediately bring that tropical island energy. Hand them out at the start of your Luau Party so guests can wear them right away—it sets the mood and makes everyone feel part of the theme.

20. Mini Pineapple Jars

Pineapple-inspired glass jars are versatile and super adorable. You can either buy jars shaped like pineapples or use plain jars and decorate them with pineapple designs.

If you choose the second option, we highly recommend you to decorate them using our premium UV DTF transfer stickers. Why? Because these stickers come in sharp colors, have a raised and glossy surface, and look like they’re printed directly on the jar. Also, you can print UV transfer stickers with any designs that are customized as your wish. So, it’s an easy way to turn a simple container into a high-quality, festive gift.

21. Personalized Tropical Tote Bags

Think about tote bags – they are practical and unique—your guests will actually use them again. However, let’s take a step further and get creative to make custom ones.

You can use DTF iron-on transfers to apply your own design to plain canvas totes. If you’re making a large batch, consider using a heat press (or even an iron if you’re doing fewer).

A design idea? You can try a sunset background with palm trees with the name of your Luau party; or the words “Aloha, [guest’s name]” to make your gift a great custom keepsake. 

These simple favors add a special touch to your Luau Party and are easy to customize for any budget.

Last words

Planning a Luau Party is about creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere with a tropical vibe in all aspects. It will not be a hard task after we discover over 20 creative ideas in this article, so take your time to make your event one to remember.

If you enjoyed these tips and want more inspiration, check out our blog page. We’ve got helpful guides on how to throw different types of themed parties, like Moana birthday party, farm birthday party, backyard birthday party, adventurous Disney princess party,…