Ideas, Invitations, Decorations, Games & Favors

Luaus are one of our favorite parties here at Party411.com--they are colorful and fun, and the food is fabulous (what more is there to a luau, except cool tropical drinks?). So, if you ask me, I think planning a luau is a great way to have a party. Limbo on down the page and check it out...

Hawaiian Luau Party Invitation

Send a personalized luau invitation from Creations For You. With many bright designs to choose from, you will find one that delights you (and your guests). Sprinkle some tropical confetti in the envelope to add some extra fun.

Prove you're creative and include a flower hair comb for the ladies and a flower wrist bracelet for the men in with the invite. Tell them they must wear the enclosed pieces on their bodies somewhere, and that you want them to dress for a luau (be ready for some ugly aloha shirts). That will get them talking long before the party!

If you want a unique invitation check out these great semi-custom caricature invitations. Using art that has already been drawn, we can add a photo face or a caricature face and personalize the message for you! You can use the semi-custom caricature as the design for other fun elements in your Hawaiian luau, including centerpieces, a welcome sign, thank you notes, and much more!

Luau Party Decorations and Party Supplies

Make it easy for people to spot your house with hula girl balloon signs. To make a grand entrance, place inflatable palm trees outside your door as the first indication to your guests that this is going to be the luau to remember. You may even want to adorn your porch rail or doorway with an inflatable parrot and/or luau lights for a festive effect.

A fun luau personalized banner to welcome your guests is a nice touch. Add a CD player with island music to create the perfect atmosphere. If you are really adventurous and can stand the ridicule and neighbor gossip, use pink flamingos to adorn your front yard or line them up the driveway or front sidewalk.

For a very memorable greeting, set up a life-sized luau cutout of you (or your friends!) with a speech bubble welcoming your guests to the party.

Have a big basket of multi-color leis inside the door where people can help themselves to a few. I would plan on a few per person so that they can be creative and festive with their leis. Here are a few of our favorites -
• Silk Flower Leis
• Thick Plastic Leis
• Flower Lei with Shot Glass
• Neon Leis
• Moholu Floral Leis

If you think you have the time, stand at the door and greet everyone with a lei--this is always a nice gesture and a traditional way of saying aloha. If you are really ta pool" standard.
• Dive or slide headfirst in the shallow part of the pool.
• Dive across the narrow part of pools.
• Run and dive.
• Dive from any place that is not specifically designed for diving.
• Engage in horseplay on diving or sliding equipment.
• Use diving equipment as a trampoline.
• Do a back dive; backyard pools are not built for this dangerous dive.
• Try fancy dives; keep the dives simple.
• Dive or slide headfirst at or through objects such as inner tubes.
• Put diving or sliding equipment on a pool that wasn't designed for it.
• Swim or dive alone.
• Dive into unfamiliar bodies of water.

MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS
• Strongly consider having at least one family member trained in basic CPR.
• Keep a wireless telephone near, but not too close, to the pool.

Keep these basic safety items by the pool at all times:
• Shepherd's crook or long-handled hook
• Life preserver
• First aid kit including written instructions on how to administer CPR

ENTERTAINING
• Plan ahead to prevent accidents and injuries, and make your entertaining truly enjoyable.
• Keep electrical appliances a significant distance from the pool. Don't use extension cords. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on any appliance or electrical device that is used poolside.
• Use of alcohol or drugs does not mix with pool activities.
• Games that may appear safe sometimes are not. Encourage and supervise the use of good pool games and toys. Prohibit horseplay, especially throwing or pushing someone into the pool.
• You have the bottom line responsibility in poolside entertaining. Use good judgment to help protect yourself, your family and guests. If in doubt, prohibit use of the pool by persons whose condition you doubt. Remember, you are in charge of your pool.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
• Drains, Suction Fittings, and Jets - Current grates and covers help prevent body or hair entrapment. Make sure that drain covers meet the ANSI/ASME A112.19.8M standard. Safety doors should be installed in all pool cleaner wall suction lines. Pools, spas, or hot tubs with drain covers that are broken, missing, or not adequately secured should not be used until the proper replacement has been installed.

• Ladders, Steps and Handrails - Make sure there are adequate safe-entry and safe-exit methods in both ends of the pool and two sides of the hot tub or spa.

• Drowning Prevention - Install and routinely inspect fences, self-closing and latching gates, baby barrier fences, and alarms. ASTM standards identify four types of pool alarms: one detects movement of the surface water, one measures sub-surface pressure waves, one monitors the perimeter using a laser, and one is a personal immersion alarm that is locked onto a child's wrist. There are also alarms for doors and gates leading to the pool or hot tub area. Learn CPR. Purchase lockable safety covers that meet the ASTM International F1346-91 (2003) Safety Standard.

• Water Clarity - Clear water aids in identifying soakers and swimmers in distress, helps swimmers avoid collisions and is an indicator that the sanitizer, circulation, and filtration systems are functioning. Poor water clarity suggests the presence of bacteria and/or algae or nutrients for their growth, and that the circulation and filtration systems may not be working efficiently to remove the contaminants from the water.