Cool party decorations add to the ambience
Before the first tiki bar ever hit Los Angeles, before Don Ho ever sang "Tiny Bubbles," hula themes were a popular way to celebrate. These days, party planners have abundant themes and supplies from which to choose a hula party theme for adults. The key element, of course, is the cocktails. So, no matter what the hula theme, be prepared to mix up something special. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Everybody Hula
1. Consider your guests. The age range and activity level of your guests will help you narrow down your hula party theme. If the crowd is full of people who like to party hard, a tiki or hula theme is ideal. Light some torches, stoke up the barbecue, and load the iPod with a tiki dance mix, such as "Vegas Vic's Tiki Lounge" or "Mondo Exotica." Your signature cocktail: anything with rum, particularly a Mai Tai.
2. Check the weather. An outdoor beach-themed hula party is perfect on a hot summer night. Set up some pretty paper lanterns, toss some sand on the lawn, grill some seafood, and put on classic surfer music such as hits by Dick Dale, The Ventures, Jan and Dean, The Chantays, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Mermen, The Eliminators, The Tornadoes, The Pyronauts, Agent Orange, The Blue Hawaiians, Pollo Del Mar, The Surf Kings, Los Straitjackets, Laika & the Cosmonauts, The Insect Surfers, Jon and the Night Riders, Los Mel-Tones, The Duo-Tones and The Sandals. Your signature cocktail: Sex on the Beach or a blender of strawberry daiquiris.
3. Research the hula. If you want to go hardcore hula for your party theme, then you have two choices. One is ancient hula, called kahiko, that is performed to chants and instrumentation. Then there is the Western-fusion hula, known as 'auana,' that has the more familiar guitar, ukulele, and double bass accompaniment. You can hire a hula dance teacher, dancers, or musicians. Your signature cocktail: anything served in a coconut cup.
4. Consult your fire codes. A real hula party demands a fire pit, but your apartment manager might not be amenable to this plan. If you can go whole hog, stoke up the fire and roast a whole pig. A smaller, gentler luau menu can feature skewered veggies from the grill, salmon in a Polynesian dipping sauce, and tropical fruits. Your signature cocktail: Blue Hawaiian.
5. Adorn those cocktails. Since the focus of an adult hula party should be on the beverages, doll them up. Think Trader Vic's in the 1950s - lots of fruity concoctions with colored, paper parasols. There are cute drink charms in the shapes of monkeys, mermaids, and tiki heads that hang coyly off the edge of the glass. Cocktail stirrers come adorned with tropical flowers, totem pole icons, palm trees, and pink flamingos.
Tags: Your signature cocktail, signature cocktail, Your signature, hula party, cocktail anything, hula party, hula party theme