Aloha, y’all!  Get out your grass skirts and puka shell necklaces.  It’s time to fire up the tiki torches and put a red hibiscus behind your left ear.  Find your old surfboard and decorate it with some tiny white lights.  See if the coconut shell bikini top you bought on a whim from the Polynesian Village still fits.  Dust off those Zombie glasses and don’t forget the paper drink umbrellas.  Inflatable palm trees?  Pink flamingoes?  Bring them on!  A luau is your chance to get silly and creative, and the sillier the better. 

When the weather starts to get balmy and the nights are clear there’s nothing more festive than a backyard luau, but you can tap into the spirit of Aloha any time of the year whether indoors or out.  Don’t let the lack of tropical breezes stop you.  Hang some beaded curtains in the doorway and string up some paper lanterns to set the mood. 

Send invitations to your guests asking them to dress luau-creative and limbo-ready, then good-naturedly refuse to answer when they ask, “What does that mean?”  Include a lei or a pair of cheap sunglasses with the invite and request that your guests wear them to the party.

For table decorations, use banana leaves (or any large non-toxic leaf from your garden) topped with an assortment of tropical fruits, such as mangos, papayas, bananas, and pineapples with some freshly cut flowers for color.  If you’ve got an extra grass skirt or two lying around (and who doesn’t?), use it as a table skirt.  Banana leaves can be used to line serving platters and bowls for a tropical effect.  If you’ve got some bamboo boards, wooden bowls, or sushi rolling mats lying around, now is the time to break them out.

One of the coolest things about luaus is that while the luau tradition has been around for hundreds of years, the Hawaiian people have always happily borrowed from other cultures whenever it seemed like the fun thing to do.  As early as 1869, ice cream was included in the menu for many luaus.  At some contemporary luaus they serve sushi and play bagpipe music.  This anything-goes mentality makes for a blissfully carefree party experience, which is what the luau is all about. (Okay, I’m kidding about the bagpipe music.)

Speaking of music, hula on over to your computer and download some ukulele tunes to your MP3 player (make sure to include Don Ho and the theme song from Magnum P.I.), but don’t play the music too loud.  You don’t want the Five-0 showing up to bring the clouds to your luau.

If you’d really like to get the party going, nothing beats a limbo contest.  Yes, I know it’s been done before, but it’s a great way to break the ice.  Wait until everyone has had a chance to have a cocktail or two and see how low they can go.

Now for a word to the wise:  Do not try to do the Fire Dance inside, especially if your house has a thatched roof.  For that matter, don’t try it outside either.  The performers that you see at resort luaus are trained professionals and ought to come with a “Do not try this at home” disclaimer tattooed somewhere on their bodies. 

Aloha! 

Cool things to say at a luau

Book ‘em Dano – It doesn’t matter what you mean.  Just a cool thing to say.
Five-O – The police
Da Kine – The Hawaiian equivalent of “the whatchamacallit” as in “I forgot where I left da kine,” meaning your car keys, sunglasses, or your girlfriend.
Onolicious – Really yummy
Mahalo – Thanks!
Duuuude – Hi there (greeting)
Kamanawanalaya – You’re cute.  Would you like to make friends?  (greeting)
Hang loose – Please stop talking about your golf game and have another Mai Tai.
Hang ten – Please stop talking about your golf game and take up surfing.

BETH FLAHERTY has been the Chef/Owner of Coriander’s Fine Foods & Catering since 1999.  Coriander’s is located at 17011 Hwy 17 North in Hampstead, NC.  More information is available at www.corianderscatering.com.  You can also reach her at 910-270-3413.

Looking for recipes for your own luau? Click here!