Few things can top the thrill and excitement of a Hawaiian luau. The event is a celebratory occasion in Hawaiian culture and includes a delicious feast, incredible entertainment and a casual, laid-back atmosphere. The theme is a great one to use for a child’s birthday party.

Whether you want to celebrate summer with a poolside luau or bring a hint of warmth to a cold winter with an indoor party, a luau celebration is ideal for kids of all ages. Here are some tips and tricks to creating the ultimate luau birthday party for your child.

1. Luau Food and Drink

If you want to have a truly authentic luau for your child, try to stick with foods that might actually be served at a Hawaiian event. Pulled pork will do a great job replacing the popular Hawaiian dish Kalua pig and is a crowd pleasing meal. Cut up tropical fruits like pineapples and mangoes for dessert. To make them more appealing for young children, place the cut fruit on skewers and alternate each piece of fruit with a fruit flavored marshmallow. Offer a Hawaiian fruit punch as the beverage of choice.

2. Luau Entertainment

For an incredible party that won’t soon be forgotten, consider hiring some entertainment to make the luau feel authentic. One fun idea for a party with mostly girls in attendance is to hire a hula dancer from your local area. Many dancers are willing to put on a short performance for guests and then teach party goers the moves. Children will love becoming hula dancers for a day! If you really want to make a splash at the event, hire a fire dancer or fire breather for your luau. These performances are typical in a Hawaiian luau and will elevate your event from a casual backyard bash to a truly memorable event.

3. Setting the Scene

One of the most important aspects of creating the ideal luau is decorating the space to make it look just like Hawaii. It if is summertime, opt for some kind of water features. Having the party around your pool is often the perfect choice. If you don’t have a pool or the weather is too cold for a swim, find a major feature like a surfboard or some tiki torches that will really set the scene for a Hawaiian party.

4. Tropical Attire

A wonderful way to make sure everyone feels festive and celebratory is to ask guests to come in Hawaiian attire for your luau. Boys can wear aloha print shirts and girls can wear floral dresses. Once guests arrive, adorn them with a floral lei. If you can’t make a lei from fresh flowers, purchase some plastic leis in bright colors instead. Young girls will love donning a plastic or raffia hula skirt while at the party, so invest in a few of these from a local party store for added fun.

5. Hawaiian Crafts

From the invitations to the fun activities during the luau, make sure your crafts are tropical and reflect an island paradise. A fun way to invite guests is to write the details of the luau on a plastic flip flop or even on a note attached to a plastic lei. To entertain guests, have them create sand art using glue and different colors of sand on card stock.

These fun ideas will help any parent to create the ultimate authentic luau for their child’s birthday party. From breathing fire to hula dancing, this will be a luau you’ll never forget.

Sandra Leon is a party planner and mother of two. A frequent traveler to Hawaii for family vacations, Sandra loves getting inspiration for future parties by picking up a few tricks from the local professional fire breathers!