While everyone else is barbecuing this weekend you can be hula dancing! Having a Labor Day Luau is the perfect way to send off summer and host a fun get together with friends. Here are some ideas for putting together a down n’ dirty luau quickly.
Get Everyone Lei-ed!
You can splurge on real flower leis if you’re feeling spendy, but you’ll find colorful artificial flower leis at any dollar store. They’re always appreciated by guests (especially the kiddos!) and can be used again at the next Hawaiian-themed gathering or with a Halloween costume!
Fruit & Flowers on the Table
Create decor and centerpieces using real fruit like bananas, guavas, pineapples, and coconuts. With a few tropical flowers such as orchids and bromeliads, it’s easy to create a relaxing tropical ambiance and you’ll have fruit in the house you can eat during the week.
Remember how your mom always said, “Don’t play with your food”??? Well, she was wrong! We put together this pineapple man as decor for a luau party and everyone loved it! Have guests bring their own pineapple man creation to the party and then vote on the winner! INSTAGRAM ALERT: they’re also great for taking pictures with!
If you have a surfboard, you can use it as decor, or place it on a table and use it as a giant serving tray for food items. Speaking of food…
Traditional Luau Foods
An authentic luau features poi and Kalua pig, which is roasted in a pit. This is a lot of work! So, don’t do that! (Plus, I have piggies here at the homestead so ceremonial pig roasts always leave me feeling a little teary-eyed.) Instead, throw some shrimp on the barbie and serve it with pineapple fried rice. Need apps or another side dish? Bacon wrapped dates make the perfect accompaniment!
For dessert, find a Mexican grocery store and pick up some frozen fruit bars! Unlike American popsicles that are nothing more than food coloring, sugar, and artificial flavors, ‘paleta helado’ is made from fresh fruit juice with chunks of fruit in them! Or, make your own homemade pops (you’ll need pop trays and molds for this). Want to booze them up?! (Yes, please!) Here are some boozy frozen popsicles from our friends at Brit + Co.
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