Hosting a Luau! Any suggestions?

[shmoogrrrl]

My best friend is turning 30 this November and her husband and I are co-hosting a Surprise party for her. We decided to go with a Luau theme.

I know about Oriental Trading Company and all the stuff that I can get there, but what about food? Her husband is going to see if he can find a restaurant that will roast a pig or something like that, but what other food would you make for a Luau theme?

Any other ideas? I thought about renting a moon bounce for the kids (there will be lots of kids!) but what other activities should we consider? Limbo maybe?

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[DawnCt1]

Unless you have an imu, roast pig, which is done at mainland barbecues is nothing like kalua pig but you can make it at home. Go to google and put in luau menu. You will get some good ideas and recipes. I would include chicken, beef, lomilomi salmon, haupia but do your guest a big favor and forget the POI!

 

[barbeml]

I threw an awesome luau a few years ago.

I did chicken skewers in a peanut ginger sauce, teriyaki hamburgers, grilled sausage, tropical fruit cups (spiked with rum), pina coladas with toasted coconut on top, caribbean mudslides, vodka lemonade, etc.

I put votive candles in sea shells for decor, and had leis for everyone. I used Oriental Trading for lots of stuff. Best party we ever had.

 

[kimbac3]

lets see... How about "Hula" Hooping? Coconut toss? A pig roast would be good. Lots of fruit. Anything served on skewers..think Ohana but smaller. Limbo is a good idea.

If I think of more I'll let you know!

Kimba

 

[mommytotwo]

You could have teriyaki meat or chicken, lau lau, chicken long rice, steamed white rice, bananas with cinnamon-not sure why, but they have these at the luaus, pineapples, fruit punch with a tropical touch, and pipikaula.

You could give each guest a lei as they arrive, have some hula dancers, and hawaiian music.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Thanks everyone! GREAT suggestions!

 

[LuvTigger]

BF's dad who now lives in Vegas (originally from Hawaii), roasted a pig on a spit, which was about as close as he could get short of building an imu in his yard for the pig. I don't know what's available in your area or how authentic you want it to be (depending on the crowd, "real" luau food might be a little too exotic). However, definitely the pineapple.

Is there anyone in your area originally from Hawaii that makes Hawaiian food? In Vegas, BF's dad catered from a restaurant whose owner was another Hawaii transplant.

I'd bet you could find a recipe for haupia somewhere on the internet. You might want to look up laulau too. Instead of luau leaves, you could use spinach. And you can definitely make lomilomi salmon, the ingredients are almost like a salsa.