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Luau decorating ideas

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Luaus are a great party for any occassion - graduation, birthdays, weddings, school, church, fundraisers, family reunions, and more! Decorations can be kept simple, or go all out. Check out this list for ideas. For a more elegant luau, stick to a few of the ideas & only a few colors.

Luau decorations can come from a number of sources, such as:

Well decorated tables can really make your venue pop. Ideas for table decorations include:

  • Balloon bouquets
  • Bright colored table cloths or table cloth plastic rolls
  • Candles – float small votives in bowls of water
  • Coconuts
  • Fabric – Polynesian or Hawaiian printed fabric – cut into strips or squares
  • Fishnets
  • Flowers – fresh floral centerpieces
  • Fruit – bowls of fresh fruit
  • Greenery – calla lily leaves, palm fronds
  • Loose orchids
  • Paper centerpieces from party stores (pineapples, hula girls, palm trees)
  • Photo frames - tropical frames with photos of guests (even better if they are photos from travels or beaches)
  • Pineapples
  • Plastic or silk leis
  • Small sea shells sprinkled on tables
  • Sprinkle confetti – palm trees, fish, birds, flamingos
  • Straw hats
  • Table runners – bright colors, or with designs such as bamboo, floral, luau, rattan


To decorate the rest of the room, check out these ideas:

  • Bamboo
  • Bamboo furniture
  • Banners, streamers, lights, signs – from party stores
  • Beach chairs
  • Beach scenes
  • Beach towels
  • Bright tropical colors
  • Coconuts
  • Colorful streamers
  • Cut out fish out of colored paper
  • Cut outs from party store (luau, hula girls, beach scene, Polynesian flowers, ukulele, tropical birds, tropical fish, palm trees)
  • Extra – in addition to your luau decorations – for kids, add a Sponge Bob or Lilo & Stitch theme; adults, add Elvis, or Survivor Samoa
  • Fish net
  • Float flowers in water
  • Greenery – silk or fresh plants, trees – create a lush environment
  • Hula skirts
  • Leis – buy each guest a lei (plastic, silk or fresh) – easy way to brighten up the room
  • Lighting – soft lighting – tiki torches, candles, strings of lights, lanterns
  • Loose flowers
  • Luau attire – make sure the invites or flyers tell everyone to wear their luau attire – colorful, Hawaiian clothing – easy way to brighten up the entire venue and make the room look fully decorated
  • Palm trees – buy from party stores, or make your own
  • Paper lanterns
  • Paper products – if you are having food, use paper products with tropical patterns or bright colors
  • Paper rolls – cover walls in solid, seemless paper – blue for ocean, green for jungle – cover with cut outs or paint a mural
  • Photo station – pull together variety of decorations & backdrop for photos
  • Pineapples
  • Polynesian masks - you can make from colored paper
  • Polynesian/Hawaiian fabric
  • Raffia
  • Raffia table skirts
  • Rattan furniture
  • Sand
  • Sarongs
  • Straw beach mats
  • Straw hats
  • Surf boards
  • Table shirts – grass look
  • Tapa cloths
  • Tiki bar
  • Tiki carvings
  • Tiki torches
  • Tiki statues
  • Travel posters for Hawaii & South Pacific/Polynesian islands
  • Tropical flowers
  • Tropical foliage and greenery
  • Tropical scene setters / backdrops (covers entire wall) – from party store
  • Ukuleles
  • Waterfall

Now that your luau decorations are planned, don't forget the food! Following is a list of our favorite luau recipes for a crowd:

http://www.myplanninglists.com/luau-recipes.php