DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Hawaiian Luau

I've had 5 or 6 people ask for and share their Luau ideas and I must say I'm accumulating quite a number of them.  I thought I might as well post them!

These make a great family weekend (when cousins or other relatives visit), a fun block party theme or a different birthday theme.   I also had a viewer who is a teacher share her ideas for a weeklong Luau project.

In order to use these ideas, pay attention to blue underlined links.  These will open a craft or further details in a new window.

BOAT THEMED INVITATIONS

FISH THEMED INVITATIONS

NON-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES/CRAFTS:

1. COCONUT TREE PAPER CRAFT   (age2+)
2. LEI MAKING
3. LITTLE CRITTER BEACH OUTFIT PAPER DOLL   (age2+)
4. MEMORY CARDS
       
5. Name Tags:  FISH or WAVES
6. OCEAN MOBILE
7. PAPER FISH
• Good thing to make at the start of the party while guests are arriving.   You can
  pre-cut all or some of the pieces (depending on the age of the party goers). 
  Make sure you use quick drying materials to color with if you plan to use them
  at the party (no goopy paint or sparkle glue)!  Some ideas of what to do with your fish:

• Use them as napkin rings/place holders:  write each person's name on the fish
  and attach them to 1/2 a toilet paper roll.  Put a napkin through the toilet paper roll and set them around
  the table so everyone will know where to sit.

• Use them as necklace nametags.   Write each child's name on them.
  Poke a hole in the top and thread a string through.  You can cover in clear contact
  paper (purchased at office supply stores for about $5 to cover about 20 fish)
  or put on cardboard (old cereal boxes) to make them waterproof and a bit more sturdy.

• Use them to draw teams.  Write each player's name on the fish and pick them out
  of a hat to choose teams or to choose the order people play in.

• Play the FISHING GAME
8. PAPER PINEAPPLE:  Can use many of the same ideas as the fish.
9. PAPER PIG:  Can use many of the same ideas as the fish.
• If you have a large group, you can have a fish team, a pineapple team and a pig team.

• There's also a toilet paper roll pig.
10. SEAHORSE COLORING PAGE
11. TATTOOS:
• Basically, use black, brown or dark blue face paint or eyeliner pencil and
  make designs around the upper arm (I don't know if you've seen these before,
  but they're very popular in Hawaii...  I believe the tattoos are symbollic of the family/ancestary of the person)

• make a simple version ... just draw a solid line or two around the arm and make
  / / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ marks or ~^~^~^~^~^~ marks along the line.
12. TISSUE FLOWERS FOR YOUR HAIR

 

COMPETITIVE ACTIVITES/GAMES:

1. Bingo Cards
   
2. Dominos
   
3. Hula Contest
• Put on a little Hula music (grandma can dig out her old Elvis record) and wiggle those hips! 
  The kids will enjoy it a lot more if they see the grownups doing it too.

• If you really want to see mommy blush, tell her that if she wants to be REALLY authentic,
  all she's allowed to wear on top is her lei!

• You could also do a Hula Hoop contest

4. Outrigger Canoe races (I'm actually not sure what the Hawaiian boats are called).
• Set up a "river" with sheets of plastic you can get at the hardware store.
  It's best if you can do it on a bit of a slope.

• Put the garden hose at the top of the "river" and turn it on full blast

• Race homemade boats down your river (take a milk carton and slice off the top.
  Decorate with stickers or a homemade toothpick and construction paper flag).
  They don't look much like canoes, but it's loads of fun!

5. Pin the Apple on the Pig (version of pin the tail on the donkey)
6. Pineapple Relays
7. Poi eating contest:
• set out bowls of poi (vanilla pudding works! ) and have contestants eat it.

• The catch?  No hands, no utensils!!!

FOOD:

A great hostess gift or door prize for a luau is Hawaiian Cookies in a jar!

For something refreshing try the HULA COOLER.

Serve pork or fish and lots of fruit!