Luau Summer Party Ideas

It's All About the "Island" Mood!

Setting the correct tone through decorations and entertainment is the best way to get the luau party theme of celebration across to your guests. By using bright colors, paradise/tropical themed decorations, and playing traditional Hawaiian music in the background, you'll be sure to get your guests in the island mood!

Decorate with popular Hawaiian-themed decor such as tiki torches, grass skirts, leis, palm trees, tropical fish, coral, and birds...just go all out! As long as you're using bright colors and Hawaiian inspired props, you really can't go wrong! Offer enough tasty beverages and I'm sure you'll end up with plenty of guys willing to participate!

Be sure to have a limbo game going on, perhaps a hula-hoop competition, coconut bowling, and maybe even a grass skirt and coconut bra runway walk!

Anything you can do to lighten the mood and put your guests into the "island state of mind"; almost so that they feel like their on a tropical vacation! I'm sure some great food and fruity drinks (or beer!) will help you attain this goal!

The Hawaiian people know how to celebrate, and lucky for us, a great luau celebration always involves delicious foods! Following are some yummy traditional Hawaiian recipes and some fantastic tropical themed beverages! It's not a real luau without these classics!

Traditional Ahi Poke Recipe

Made with the freshest raw ahi tuna, poke makes a great pupu (appetizer) for any meal.

Ingredients:

* 4 cups ahi (yellowfin tuna, sashimi grade) diced
* 1/2 cup onion, minced
* 1/4 cup green onion, minced
* 1 cup soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons sesame oil
* Hawaiian salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

This is the most basic recipe for ahi poke, served as a pupu or appetizer at most luaus and Hawaiian dinners.

Season ahi with Hawaiian salt. Add all ingredients, mix well then chill.



Kalua Pig

Even if you don't have an imu, you can still make Hawaiian kalua pig at home from pork butt purchased at your local supermarket.

Ingredients:

* 4-5 pound pork butt
* 2½ tablespoons Hawaiian salt (substitute kosher salt)
* 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
* 1 banana leaf (substitute 4-5 whole, unpeeled bananas)
* 4-6 ti leaves (substitute aluminum foil)

Preparation:

Trim any excess fat from the roast. Make several shallow long cuts along the roast or pierce liberally with a fork. (This allows the salt and liquid smoke to penetrate the meat.) Rub with salt and liquid smoke. Wrap the roast with banana leaf or in the absence of same, place whole bananas on top of meat .

Cut the ribs from the ti leaves and wrap over the banana leaf. Substitute aluminum foil, if ti leaves are not available. (Ti leaves can often be obtained from a local florist). Tie securely with twine.

You can either roast in an oven at 325-350 degrees for about 45 minutes per pound or slow-grill on an outdoor grill. When meat is done, remove ti leaves, banana leaf (or bananas) and shred pork.



Huli Huli Chicken

Hawaii's own version of barbecued chicken is cooked with Huli-Huli Sauce (made with pure Hawaiian brown sugar cane along with soy sauce, fresh ginger and more).

Ingredients:

* 4-5 lbs chicken pieces
* 1/3 cup ketchup
* 1/3 cup soy sauce
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 3 tablespoons sherry
* 1 piece ginger root, crushed
* 1 clove garlic, crushed

Preparation:

Combine ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, ginger root, and garlic. Stir well.

Place chicken, skin side up, on the rack of broiler pan about 6 inches from the heat or preferably on an outdoor grill.

Baste the chicken frequently and continue broiling or grilling for about 10 minutes on each side or until chicken appears done.



Lava Flow Recipe

There are numerous variations for making a Lava Flow. This biggest difference is that some recipes use 1 oz. of light rum and 1 oz. of Malibu® coconut rum. When Malibu® coconut rum is unavilable you can use 1 1/2 oz. of light rum and 1/2 oz. of coconut cream.

Prep Time: 05 minutes
Cook Time: 05 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1 oz. light rum
* 1 oz. Malibu® coconut rum
* 2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
* 1 small banana
* 2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
* 2 oz. coconut cream

Preparation:

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass. Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth.

Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella.



Blue Hawaii Cocktail

There are numerous variations of this recipe, many using Creme de Coconut, but this is the authentic recipe.

Prep Time: 01 minute
Total Time: 1 minute

Ingredients:

* 3/4 oz. Light Rum
* 3/4 oz. Vodka
* 1/2 oz. Blue Caracao
* 3 oz. Pineapple Juice
* 1 oz. Sweet & Sour Mix

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients and mix well. If using ice, mix the ingredients in a blender. Serve in a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.



Waikiki Champagne Punch

A fresh, delicious and refreshing drink for those who don't like hard liquor. Use fresh pineapple juice when possible.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1.5 qt. fresh pineapple juice
* 2 - 750 ml bottles of dry or semi-dry champagne, chilled
* 3 cups of pineapple chucks in juice
* 1 lemon sliced
* 1 lime sliced
* 2 - 3 oranges sliced
* 2 cups strawberries
* ice cubes as needed

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl or large stew pot. Add ice cubes. You can garnish the punch with pieces of any of the fruits used in the punch.

More or less champagne can be used depending on the party. Pink champagne can also be used.



*All recipes from About.com