Bring the feel of a Hawaiian beach to your party.
Throw a Hawaiian beach party for a colorful, laid-back birthday party; a flavorful wedding shower; or for no reason at all. The islands inspire a casual affair that includes fruity sweet drinks, easy-to-prepare foods, bright decorations and smiling guests. Any age group can enjoy a beach party, whether or not it is held near a beach.
Invitations
Paper drink umbrellas are a festive touch to a beach party invitation.
Leis made out of card stock is a creative way to invite people to your Hawaiian beach party. Cut out flowers from colored card stock and write the party details on the flowers: the date and time on one flower, your address on another, what to bring on another and so on.
Flip flops or sunglasses from the dollar store are another surprising invitation idea. Mail a pair of flip flops or sunglasses with the party details attached. Write directly on the sunglasses with a white-out pen.
Drink umbrellas are easier to mail and make for a colorful invitation. Attach a tiny umbrella to a simple card stock invitation to make it extra special.
Decorations
Lots of leis create a party atmosphere.
Streamers are an inexpensive way to create a festive scene. Hang green streamers from all the door frames and create a fringe effect on the tables. If held outside, the streamers will blow in the wind, giving them a hula dancing effect.
Leis are useful for both decorating the food table by wrapping around bowls of food and for decorating your guests. Offer a lei at the door and be sure to have plenty to go around. Some guests may want to wear them around their ankles, wrists or on their head.
Brightly colored balloons in colors such as orange and pink, yellow and bright green make another simple and inexpensive decoration for a Hawaiian beach party.
Check a party store or craft store for decorative items such as straws, specialty coconut cups, table cloths and paper goods. Also look for Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and coconut bras for those who want to dress the part.
Food
Include pineapple at your Hawaiian beach party.
Kabobs on the grill or a nice touch for a beach party. Add pineapple chunks to pieces of pork and vegetables on a skewer.
Grilled fish also makes a nice touch as well as simple hamburgers and hot dogs---especially if it is a kids' party.
Fruit salad with lots of tropical fruit, like pineapple, mango, kiwi and coconut and an assortment of melons, make a refreshing treat on a hot day.
Tropical punch can be served with drink umbrellas or fancy party picks with skewered fruit cubes.
Beverage cans can be placed in a children's plastic pool filled with ice water.
Activities
Do the "hula" with hula hoops.
Limbo dancing is a traditional game for a beach party. Purchase a limbo set from a local party store or make your own. The game is played to music, so be sure to set up a place to play Hawaiian tunes during the game.
Hula hoop contests can be another activity for your beach party. Group your guests by age or other specifications (for example, all the red heads, all the brunettes, all the blonds), turn up the music and see who can keep the hula hoop up the longest.
Costume contests can be a part of your Hawaiian beach party as well. Ask guests on your invitation to dress in Hawaiian outfits. Choose a winner for the loudest Hawaiian shirt, best hula dancer or native Hawaiian costume. Make everyone a winner by coming up with categories as they arrive: the prettiest in pink, the ugliest shirt and so on.
Tags: beach party, Hawaiian beach, beach party, card stock, Hawaiian beach party