Need ideas for a luau themed party for 5th graders

[summerrluvv]

I'm thinking of having an end of year party for my son's class at my house. Dollar tree has a bunch of luau supplies so I just need other ideas for the party (food, fun, etc.). I was thinking of getting a DJ and possibly renting an inflatable obstacle course (depending on the price), but without the obstacle course, what can they do? Just mingle, eat and dance? Any special touches you would add? I'm kinda lost on this one since I don't want it to be like a planned bday party with all the games, etc. TIA

 

[littlezar]

I'm thinking you need some hula hoops -either for fun or contest - and a limbo stick.

 

[Gigi22]

Grilled pineapple. Yum!

 

[Whistle]

Limbo . . . how about a "Survivor" take off where they have to find a clue . . . ??? Not sure if that is too "kiddy" for them or not. What about a "candy buffet" like some have done/posted here. They look great, and I think would be a great hit!

 

[Piglet843]

I'm planning an adult themed luau party - so I've been googling it.
Here are a couple of site I've run across that you might be interested in...

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/partytropical.htm

http://www.toppartyideas.com/hawaiian-luau-party/

 

[McKelly]

I know you said, no games. But these require very little prep.

You could put out water balloons and a hose, they could fill their own and they would have fun with that.

Also, I have done "sponge tag". I fill up a kids plastic pool with water (bucket would work too), the person who is "it", soaks their sponge and tries to tag people by either tagging them or tossing the sponge at people. If they get wet, they are out.

Kids that age would also probably enjoy squirt guns, if you are okay with that.

Throwing up a volleyball net with a beach ball might be a good idea too.

Have fun! It is very generous of you to do that for your son's class!!

 

[debbiedana]

birthdaypartyideas.com is an infinite source of ideas, that where I steal all the amazing ideas for my DD's parties.

 

[MEM]

Consider a "tacky tourist" relay. Find the tackiest Hawaiian flowered shirts, floppy hats, BIG sunglasses - found them at the Dollar Store, fanny pack or backpack - children run from the starting line to the other end of the yard - put on all the clothes and accessories and run back to the starting line where they exchange clothes with the next person who runs to the end of the yard and back again, etc. etc. There are variations on this theme but it was hilarious. Personally, I think a game or two would be a good idea because some students are too shy to just "mingle" (I used to be one of them).

If you want to do goody bags, Oriental Trading has a ton of cute stuff (not all junk) like surfboard keychains, etc.

Trader Joe's sells surfboard shaped tortilla chips. We ordered Hawaiian-style pizza for our party for those who wanted to try it but most of the pizzas were plain cheese. You could also do coconut cupcakes, anything with macadamia nuts, pineapple upside down cake. I would LOVE to plan another luau!

 

[MEM]

I'm thinking of having an end of year party for my son's class at my house. Dollar tree has a bunch of luau supplies so I just need other ideas for the party (food, fun, etc.). I was thinking of getting a DJ and possibly renting an inflatable obstacle course (depending on the price), but without the obstacle course, what can they do? Just mingle, eat and dance? Any special touches you would add? I'm kinda lost on this one since I don't want it to be like a planned bday party with all the games, etc. TIA

Instead of a DJ, for our 4th grade luau we had the soundtracks to Lilo and Stitch (there are two of them) and then I borrowed CDs from the library of native singers like Don Ho.

 

[MEM]

birthdaypartyideas.com is an infinite source of ideas, that where I steal all the amazing ideas for my DD's parties.

That's my favorite party planning site too! So many clever people on there.

 

[momtwo4]

We always throw in a couple fun games. I have two 5th graders now, 1 boy and 1 girl. They are starting to break away from the organized activities, but still like a couple. They always like slime. We have had this at other parties, slime relays and scavenger hunts are fun. The slime is made out of corn starch and water if I remember correctly. Just google it if you are interested. We added a little green food coloring to the slime for effect.
Fruit kabobs, candy, silly decor, and put on a some theme music.
Have a great party!

 

[eeyoremommy]

I don't have any ideas, but I did see where Walmart had clearanced out their luau themed party supplies. If you need any last minute things, you might be able to get them cheaper.

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm thinking of having an end of year party for my son's class at my house. Dollar tree has a bunch of luau supplies so I just need other ideas for the party (food, fun, etc.). I was thinking of getting a DJ and possibly renting an inflatable obstacle course (depending on the price), but without the obstacle course, what can they do? Just mingle, eat and dance? Any special touches you would add? I'm kinda lost on this one since I don't want it to be like a planned bday party with all the games, etc. TIA

A friend of ours has a restaurant size frozen drink machine that we borrowed for DD's luau HS grad party. I stocked up on lemonade mix when Meijer had it B1G2 free. It was cheap and the kids loved having a frozen drink. Some of the adults added a little something to their drinks.

I have no idea what the cost is but I know that the rental place by us has them.

 

[MomtoGKC]

My DD had a luau theme party a few years ago. My DH loves to make weird juice drinks for our kids - he mixes different kinds and gives them funny names - his favorite being the lollapalooza. So, we had a juice bar at the party. We brought all kinds of juice - pinneapple, orange, cranberry, etc. I think he had Sprite to make fizzy fronks, too. Then he and DD made up a menu to post. The kids all got to come up and order fancy frinks in tiki themed cups from the dollar store. I thought it sounded like a boring idea, but the kids loved it. They all made up their own mixes and names, too. The "bar" was really just DH sitting on a beach chair behind a cooler.

Oh, and for a super easy dessert we bought fake hibiscus flowers, cut the stems off and stuck one on each cupcake. They looked so pretty all bunched together on a platter.

 

[MomtoGKC]

A friend of ours has a restaurant size frozen drink machine that we borrowed for DD's luau HS grad party. I stocked up on lemonade mix when Meijer had it B1G2 free. It was cheap and the kids loved having a frozen drink. Some of the adults added a little something to their drinks.

I have no idea what the cost is but I know that the rental place by us has them.

Our new house has a big tiki hut with a bar in the backyard - I am totally going to see how much one of those machines is for our next party! It would be much easier than making small batches of margaritas in our regular blender.

 

[summerrluvv]

Thank you all!!

We did a candy buffet and scavenger hunt (which the kids LOVED btw!!), at the halloween party so I didn't want to repeat both this time around.

I bought awesome decorations last night at Dollar Tree and saw they had tiki cups and coconut straw cups. I think I might do the juice bar thing, I love that idea!!

Water balloons is a good idea....do you think I should tell them to wear swimsuits though? I know my own kid wouldn't care about getting wet, but I know how the girls can be. But then again are 5th grade girls going to want to wear bathing suits around 5th grade boys? LOL

Oh...and I was thinking about doing it ON the last day of school...I think they get out at 11..so I was going to make it later in the day, maybe 4pm...too late? do people usually have plans on the last day?

 

[erincon23]

Our elementary school has a big party for the 5th graders every year, and when DS14 was in 5th grade, they did a "beach" themed party. They had several photo stations set up, and I was in charge of one of them. Kids love to have their pix taken -- could you do something like that? The kids were all told to bring a disposable camera, and then a mom would take their picture with their own camera. Or you could take the pictures with your digital camera, and then make a disk with all the pictures for each kid (disks are cheap). The picture below is the station we set up. I got the backdrop -- which is a shower curtain (actually, two, and we put brown paper underneath so the picture would show when they stood up, but you could have them sit in beach chairs) from Target, and it was pretty cheap. I don't know if they have the same type of shower curtain still available. They also had beach towels to match.

Erin

 

[summerrluvv]

Love that idea with the shower curtain!

 

[dizkids]

Erin

AWESOME Pix station!! Do you recall where you bought the shower curtain?