Hawaii is the land of luaus and home to pristine beaches, majestic volcanoes and crashing waves. The Hawaiian Islands are a popular vacation destination for everyone from young families to newlyweds on their honeymoon. According to Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Develop and Tourism, Hawaii played host to almost 7 million visitors in 2008---over five times Hawaii's population. With a little bit of creativity, you can bring the feel of the islands to your next outdoor gathering whether you have visited Hawaii or not. Does this Spark an idea?
Mood
When attending a luau in Hawaii, the first thing you notice are tiki torches and bonfires setting the mood. Homemade tiki torches are not recommended for safety reasons, but candles can still fill the gap. If there is a pool or pond in the yard, set some candles afloat. Place approximately 1 inch of beach or play sand in the bottom of different sized clear drinking glasses. Insert white pillar candles into the glasses, pushing them down into the sand.
Use a sharp craft knife, scissors or paper punch to cut small, decorative designs on the top two-thirds of white paper sandwich bags. Brown bags can be used if white is not available. Pour approximately one-half to 1 inch of beach or play sand in the bottom to keep the bags upright. Place votive candles on the sand for a do-it-yourself luminaria. Place the luminarias around the edge of the garden.
Cut a coconut in half and sand down or cut a small piece off of the bottom of each half so that they will stand evenly. Pour out the liquid and let the coconut dry. Insert a votive candle into each half for a decoration that will make the yard smell tropical.
Decorations
Hawaii is known for its exotic flowers. Use artificial flowers pulled off of their stem and some elastic thread to make leis, floral headbands and bracelets. The leis can be hung from tree branches or on hooks or simply placed in a basket for guests to take.
A dance floor that mimics the beach is a fun novelty that will awe your guests. Simply set down a plastic tarp on a level piece of ground and cover it with beach or play sand. Set a small wading pool nearby for guests to rinse the sand off of their feet.
Make a whimsical centerpiece showcasing some of Hawaii's favorite products. Simply set a watermelon in the center of the table. Surround it with fresh coconuts and pineapples along with cans of Spam and bottles of Heineken beer. When your guests ask, you can speak with authority when you tell them that Spam is an integral part of Hawaiian cuisine and Heineken is their favorite beer.
Paint colorful tribal masks approximately 2 to 3 feet high on heavy cardboard. Glue or nail them to strips of wood approximately 3 feet tall; push them into the ground for a truly native feel.
Fill small fishbowls with water and real fish, artificial fish or floating candles. Tie a few colorful helium balloons to the top using coordinating ribbon to keep the Hawaii water theme at the forefront.
Tags: beach play, beach play sand, play sand, approximately feet, each half