I need some ideas on Hawaiian decorations?

Coconuts, leis, pineapples, hula girls, palm trees and pina coladas.

At place settings you can have the napkin folded, and place a single plumeria or orchid flower on top. It's a simple, elegant, nice touch when people sit down.

Wooden bowls with a few floating plumeria or orchid flowers in each is another very simple, elegant, inexpensive touch...and a nice centerpiece.

At place settings you can have the napkin folded, and place a single plumeria or orchid flower on top. It's a simple, elegant, nice touch when people sit down.

Wooden bowls with a few floating plumeria or orchid flowers in each is another very simple, elegant, inexpensive touch...and a nice centerpiece.

Www.alohafriendsluau.com/caterers.html this web site has a list of helpful ideas on a Hawaiian wedding theme.(listed on the right hand side).
These are cute candles: http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=11933

This is cute : http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/life/family_life/celebrations/ 1903108_luau_party_decorations.php?id=1903108&refnum=177718

is this to much? http://shindigzparty.wordpress.com/2007/07/19/say-aloha-to-luau-party- food/ HTH.

Here is a Luau post I did a couple of days ago, it also includes recipes. Susu
We just did a Luau for my son's going away party (Iraq) and we did burgers with grilled pineapple. For decorations we got a fish net which we hung in a doorway ( but you can put it on the wall) and some plastic fish and attached them to it. You can get styrofoam and make mini surfboards and decorate them with Hawaiian floral designs. We found the coolest Hawaiian style plates, bowls, salt/pepper shakers and trays at Walgreens. They were cheap ($2-$3 each) And Family Dollar had a tea jug with 3 glasses and swizzle sticks that had hybiscus flowers on them. We also bought extra lei's and cut them so they were like a rope (we tied a bead at each end to keep the flowers on) then we used them as garland. If you are going into the evening hours and are going to be outside, you can trim your area with your Christmas lights, for a dramatic effect. You can place fresh Orchids in water (they float and are beautiful) whether a glass of colored water or even your swimming pool, whatever you wish. You can also place them in your hair with a bobby pin (on the left side if you are taken and on the right side if you are single). If you can find shell necklaces you can put those around earthtone candles or a pineapple, a layer cake, or it you can find one a dashboard hula girl. Also if you can find ti leaves (large hawaiian leaves) you can layer them under your centerpeices for a finished look. You can place flowers in an unused tiki torch for a cool look. You can cut cocnuts in half and make them into centerpieces, even making them into candle holders. You can use grass skirts and the lei garland I was talking about to trim out your tables. If you find a blowup swimming pool that has hawaiian flowers on it you can use that as an alternative to an ice chest for your canned drinks. If you want to give a sand look, but don't want sand in your food, try light brown sugar instead, but beware of ants! Besides pineapple and coconuts, Papayas and bananas are also seen at Luau's.
Another place to find Luau stuff is at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and any party warehouse type store.
Poi is a traditional (purple) starchy food made from pounded taro root, that is eaten with the hands, but I don't like it so here is a great banana alternative.

Banana Poi (serves 2)
2 cups very ripe bananas, mashed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup coconut cream

Directions:
1) Mash bananas until a smooth paste is formed.
2) Add the lemon juice.
3) Gradually add the coconut cream, stirring constantly.
4) Serve on a bamboo tray or Ti leaf

While whole roasted pigs are the norm, this can be a real turn off to some guests, Use a pork roast instead:

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.

Roast in a 325-350 degree oven for about 45 minutes per pound. When meat is done, remove ti leaves, banana leaf (or bananas) and shred pork.

For finger foods, try these lil' smokies:

Pineapple Smokies
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 tbsp. flour
2 tsp. ground mustard
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup vinegar
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
2 lbs. lil' smokies

In a large sauce pan, combine sugar, flour and mustard. Gradually stir in pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stir occasionally. Boil for 2 minutes,stir constantly. Add sausages; stir to coat. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve warm. Yield 8 doz.
Note: I like to put sausages in a crockpot after boiling in saucepan and cooking them. This will make them more tender & will stay warm til they are served.

Side dishes:

Aloha Sweet Potatoes
4 to 5 medium sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup shredded coconut
Boil sweet potatoes in their jackets until tender about 25 minutes. Let coo, then peel and cut int slices 1 1/2-inch thick. In a large skillet melt butter. Stir in brown sugar and water and cook on medium heat abot 5 minutes. Reduce heat and add sweet potatoes to skillet before serving. Makes 8 servings.
Note: Canned yams can be used in place of sweet potatoes.

Hawaiian Rice Pilaf
Roasted macadamia nuts give this delicious rice pilaf recipe an unforgettable flavor. Leave the nuts whole for better texture.

Ingredients:

1 Tbs. butter
1-1/2 cups long-grain white rice
2 to 3 cloves chopped garlic
1/3 cup diced red pepper
1/3 cup diced yellow pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup roasted macadamia nuts
1/4 tsp. ground sage
salt to taste
1 cup diced pineapple
1/4 cup parsley

Preparation:

Melt butter in oven-proof casserole dish (with lid). Add rice and garlic, stirring to coat. Stir in peppers and chicken broth. Cover, and bring to boil. Stir in raisins, macadamia nuts and sage. Add salt if desired.

Cover, and place in preheated 375-degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes. When rice is finished baking, gently stir in pineapple and parsley. Serve immediately.

Desserts:

Haupia (pudding) with Pineapple
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup chopped fresh pineapple

Combine cornstarch, sugar, water, and coconut milk. Stir until smooth. Stir over medium heat until thickened. Lower heat and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Stir in fresh pineapple and pour into a flat pan. Refrigerate until set. (Best described as a "stiff pudding" is a staple desert at every Hawaiian luau)



Hawiian Wedding Cake (ggod for Luau's too!):
2 C. sugar
2 C. flour
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
1 can crushed pineapple
2 tsp. vanilla
1 T. rum
1 C. chopped nuts (walnuts work if you don't want macadamia expense)
1 C. shredded coconut (I prefer the Mounds coconut - bigger peices)

Combine sugar and flour. Make a hole in flour mixture and pour in can of pineapple and disolve baking soda in pineapple. Add eggs and beat this mixture well and then stir in with flour mixture. Add vanilla, rum, nuts and coconut. Bake in greased pan for about 35 minutes ant 350. Use toothpick to test for doneness.

Cream Cheese Icing
1 Stick Butter
1 8 oz. pkg. creamcheese
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. rum

Bring butter and creamcheese to room temp. Beat until well blended and no cream cheese lumps. Add sugar, vanilla, rum and beat just until combined and smooth



Hawaiian Ambrosia:

8 ounce can of crushed pineapple, drained
1 can lychee pitted and drained or 11 ounce can mandarin oranges drained
3 1/2 cups cool whip
2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
1 cup maraschino cherries

In a large bowl pineapple, lychee or mandarin oranges, whipped topping, coconut, marshmallows and milk. Chill 1 hour. Garnish with cherries before serving. Serves 12.

Pomaika`i (Good luck) and Le`ale`a (Have fun)!. Susu

Get an order from ORIENTAL TRADING CO. You can get a magazine for free and their prices are very resonable.
www.orientaltrading.com

How bout lays, and pineapples, and anything that you would see in a typical hawaii tourist hot spot

I am having a Luau at the end of August.
I ordered grass table skirts (they are 9 ft wide) from Oriental Trading and made all the ladies a skirt to wear. The men all wear flowered shirts. I also found a nice deal for leis on ebay, the nice silk kind that dont itch, they were 100 for $30! I will pass out leis to everyone.
Also, I ordered a pineapple piniata and a ton of things that are luau themed to fill it, like lei bracelets, surfboard keychains, flipflop keychains, habiscus notepads, pens and pencils, palmtree straws.....
We also built a REAL tiki bar and put light in it and paper lanterns.
I have a pin the monkey on the palm tree game, limbo... etc.
Let me know how it turns out for you!
Good luck!