Planning a Hawaiian Luau. Care to share ideas?

Hello everyone,

Next year hubby's family will celebrate 21 years of
annual reunions. Perhaps a moment of lunacy came over
me, but I volunteered to host the next event.

So, armed with three hundred dollars in donations, I'm
trying to plan a party for 75-100 people. We're trying to
pinpoint the attendance, but figuring 100 at most. Everyone
will bring a pot luck dish. I realize 300.00 is not much to
work with, but it gets worse.

After reserving the pavillion, we're down to 250.00. Of that,
plates, cups, napkins, ice, forks, spoons, knives, salt and
pepper must come, as well as any door prizes, decorations,
etc. Decor is not so much the problem, as I just happen to have a
ton of real bamboo poles, tons of raffia, bags and bags of balloons, etc.

There are about a dozen kids, the rest are teens or adults.

HELP!

I've been racking my brain and surfing the internet for days, calculating,
figuring, adding. The problem is, typically most of the money is spent on
a few big ticket items. Personally, I would prefer everyone walks away with
a little something, a momento, anything, than just one adult winning a prize.
This leaves 99 people out. My first thought was to buy enough plastic pineapple
cups, palm tree, tiki and coconut cups so everyone could have one.

I also have this fantasy of something other than plain white paper plates
and cheezy flatware. It just seems that colorful festivities are more fun.

Would you, as a guest having made a donation for this event, be upset if
the host spent good money on colored plastic ware?
The plastic would be recycled, of course.

I'm seriously considering these nifty compartment plates with cup holders,
colored flatware, matching napkins, etc. This way you have one free hand
while the other carries your entire meal with a drink. Convenient for the
older adults, fun for the kids. There would be extras leftover for next year,
by the way.

Could anyone give me any ideas? I would truly appreciate it!

KM

P.S. I do realize many items will come out of my own pocket, because
I truly want this to be a success. ;-)

Image of hula girl courtesy of http://www.fflpros.com/

Hi Wuvie~ sounds like fun! Gentle breezes and Hawaiaan music playing against the soft waves of the ocean, against a sunset sky ... OK back to ideas.. A previous neighbor had a Hawaiian theme BBQ, and we all brought our palms trees and large tropical plants to help set the stage before the party. We were all greeted with leis on our arrival and her husband pretended to blow a conch shell as the son blew the trompone to signal the start of dinner and the festivities. We all had to dress Hawaiian style as well. I would not be offended by coloful plasticware over " paper plates and cheezy flatware."....If you are concerned about a nice gathering this early , then you are the right party hostess to plan this event.

Wuvie,

I have been looking around the web for some ideas...I found these neat plates and platters here... http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thepartypeople.com.au/products/images/prodImages/sm_2080.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thepartypeople.com.au/products/%3Fc%3D37&h=96&w=125&sz=4&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=bDwa93fKvWG9YM:&tbnh=69&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhawaiian%2Bthemes%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DGi I am still looking as well. I have some thought though...i know the dollar tree has loads of Hawaiian theme, and walmart, oh and Big Lots has tons as well. I was thinking maybe getting different color paper table clothes, and giving leis to everyone that comes.
Here is another link for ideas: http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/dress-up/acc/hawaiian.html

And about the food, when i think of Hawaii i think of pineapples, and lots of them..maybe get a pig and roast it...lol eww that just grosses me out...well i would get a couple of big hams and bake them. I wonder if you can cook them on a nice grill on on like medium heat in a nice deep pan, that way the heat would stay outta the kitchen and everyone could serve themselves and it would stay warm for everyone that way as well. Another thing i think about is corn on the cob. Maybe everyone could take home there cob holders, I know you can get them cheap now...my local grocery store has a ton on clearance now. Let me know if you want me to inquire about them and i will :o).
Oh and at Walmart's now they have all there plastic cups, not the disposable ones the ones you keep on sale...i think they were like .88 cents each and they are marked down, and they are those great summer colors, like the bright pink, green, blue and yellow. Might wanna check those out.
I will keep thinking and let you know of all the ideas i get. I hope some of what i have said will give you some inspiration on getting some things done.

Char

Hi Char,

Many thanks! The first link is Australian, but good for ideas.

When I first mentioned the Hawaiian Luau, the first thing out of the
men's mouths was "Pig, let's roast a pig." After a few days, I began
to think harder about this one. I realize not everyone is animal sensitive
and leaning towards vegetarian, especially a group of Okies, but I told hubby
that I wasn't sure I was keen to the idea of a dead body with legs laying
on the table.

He laughed so hard I thought he was going to cry. When I thought about
how it sounded coming from me, I can see why he would laugh, but honestly,
I was trying to think of the children's perspectives. If I were a child at a dinner,
the thought of a pig laying there baked to a crisp would lead me to the salad
dish. Hubby said I could cover up the head. I suggested we just smoke
a few hams instead. I realize it is the same thing, but I can't help it. ;-)

Many thanks for all of your ideas. We have a year to get this all together,
so hopefully I can hit a few clearance sales through the year.

:-) KM

My sister lived in the Marshall Islands for a couple of years, her first party back in US featured yummy panana chips. You take really green bananas, slice very thin, deep fry and salt.
Sounds like a great party. Having gone to a company picnic that featured an entire roast pig-I Really encourage a ham. I stayed away from that end of the park. :(

Banana chips, I like that idea!

Marcia, I think hubby is beginning to get the picture. I don't
want to upset all the little ones, or offend any veggers present.

:-)

Wuvie, Do you ever order from the Oriental Trade Company? They sell all kinds of stuff in bulk, party favors, crafts ect. They have a good selection of Luau stuff and real good prices! If you do not like to order online you can request a catalogue.
http://www.orientaltrading.com

I do know this CD is a must-have for part of the music. Always makes people feel good. Listen to some of the samplers: http://www.amazon.com/Hapa/dp/B000004BOL

Hi Merigold, indeed, OTC is great for such. They are sending a catalog
soon with a special selection of Luau merchandise. I can't wait!

Stella, many thanks, we'll definitely need some music!

:-) Yesterday, yard sales were a blast. Found a grass skirt, a bag of leis
and bracelets and a coconut bra, all for two dollars!

KM

Yard sales and thrift shops are a great place to shop for stuff like that. Seeing that album cover reminded me I hadn't listened to Hapa for a while so I have it spinning in the CD player right now. It's wonderful for sure. You might want to find someone to help you download Hawaiian music from one of the music sites (I-tunes for one) and make a special CD. You could burn a bunch of those for minimal cost and use them as 'prizes.'

You could get some inexpensive frames and in the time you have to plan, paint them with the family name with paint pens, and add stickers and whatnot from the craft store in keeping with your theme.

Then you could encourage people to come dressed in print shirts, and hand out some grass skirts for the women, and then take a group photo that you have printed and placed in the frames so that everyone (or at least every household) can have one framed photo of everyone dressed in their themed outfit. Or make a craft of it and have everyone decorate their own frame, and then mail out the photo to place in the frame they made.

You could also get some of your plastic glasses or mugs and use paint pens to make a customized plastic cups with your theme.

If you do any grilled pineapple, you can save the tops and plant them up for anyone who is interested in gardening to take home. It's very easy.

You might also check the big box stores in early November for any clearance-priced Halloween costumes that you can make use of.

Wuvie,

I found this while on ebay and thought of you and your reunion. I think it is a great price and was thinking maybe you can use the bowls for like serving dishes for small items like olives, diced onions etc...

Hope it helps.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300187037497&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020


Char

We have grilled a couple pigs. The head and legs are removed, the body stuffed with sausage and apples.
After cutting and placing on platters with BBQ sauce no one cared. It is soooo good. It would break your budget though. A large pig can run upwards of 200 bucks, and if you need to rent a pig roaster....
I would go for the ham. Easier and safer.
Oriental Trading Co, is great. So many neat cheap things. Makes you want to have a party just reading the cataloge.

I know my sister has taken cheap fabric and cut with pinking shears in a large circle and placed them under paper plates and between the cheap paper plate holders (made out of either plastic or a basket type material) and it really looks nice for BBQ's etc.

Also my Mom made bags for everyone in the family at her 20yr family get together using white lunch bags that she had run off (we used my Dad's office copier) with the family name and a logo. Inside she put a name tag, a pen printed with the family name (she got them from OTC I think) a brief family history and index cards she had already copied down that person's address on pass out to members that they had lost touch with. She had a year to do all of this and we kids (lol 45 and 40) pitched in. Also you would be surprised how many fast food or restaurants in general will donate cups to go boxes and even to go silverware. Can't hurt to ask.

You might consider buying scrap fabric and use them for napkins and table covers. A basket on the side for soiled linens. Even with that many people it might come to 1 load of wash. And wiping with cloth with barbecue is sure a lot easier and less messy, especially with the kids! You could find something to fit your theme on the cheap.

All fabulous ideas, folks, many thanks!

Char, I hope I clicked the right link, I came up with
an espresso machine, but did not see any bowls?

;-)

Wuvie,

So sorry, don't know how that happened....lol

Here is the correct link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160187230020&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006


Char

If I may chime in here.....we had a luau last year.

Slow roasted pork butt is very cheap and very Hawaiian. Serve with rolls and bbq sauce.
Or how about SPAM!!? Nothing more Hawaiian than that.
Make a macaroni salad to go with it.
Plastic leis are very cheap and willl instantly say Hawaii!
Those bamboo Tiki style lanterns can be had for around $ 3 a piece and will give a festive and tropical atmosphere.
Hawaiian music for sure.
I like the idea of having people bring their tropical plants
I personally would not spend money on fancy paper or plastic tableware. Better to spend that on making the surroundings look tropical.
Yard sales and thrift shops (and Craigslist if you have that in your area) will have to become your shopping grounds!!
Have a great time.

Many thanks for all of the great input, everyone!

Char, that's pretty neat! We would need enough for
one hundred or more, but it is sure a great looking set!

:-) KM

When I did my Luau I froze little cups of ice that would fit in a carved out pineapple on its side and put on every table; what did I put in it? Shrimp cocktail with a little plastic cup of cocktail sauce. To me it is all about presentation. I would spend the money on colored paperware . . just me. You could put fresh diced fruit in the pineapple. I don't care if I have to spend some of my own money. I did Cedar Planked Salmon for the main course.

Ideas are endless but I am packing to leave for CA tomorrow (5 AM) ; so better go do that.

Oh, I'm with you. If I'm the hostess, I would really like it to be
a memorable occasion. I think I'll go with the better dinnerware,
on my own money.

It is almost as though I am throwing the party,
and I would love to see colorful fun. Can you imagine how fun the
pictures will be? Everyone in colorful Hawaiian shirts, balloons, streamers,
color, color everywhere?

I can hear my aunt now. "Presentation is everything."

LOL

Yes, presentation is EVERYTHING, but the food has to still be good.