• Fresh fruit snacks keep luau guests hydrated.fruit salad image by citylights from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  Planning a luau party requires decorations, refreshments and entertainment that all inspire the thought of tropical beaches and island paradises. The first luau was a royal affair in the early 1800s, but modern luaus take a more casual approach. From frosty drinks to tacky Hawaiian shirts, this colorful celebration can use inspiration from any beach or tropical theme.
  
  

Decorations

• Flowers, plants, sand and seashells are common luau decorations. Fake flower and leaf garlands along walls/fences/railings give the party area a punch of tropical color. Bamboo- or leaf-patterned tablecloths add a jungle accent to tables and counters. Coconut bowls filled with sand and colorful seashells provide simple table centerpieces. Hand-carved pineapples sitting in the middle of the bowls turn the decorations into fancy table centerpieces.
  
  Tiki torches along pathways and around tables add a primitive style and extra lighting to an evening luau. Plastic parrots dangling from trees, poles and awnings provide a wild touch to the tropical decor. Other accent decorations can include plastic seashells scattered around tables/floors/walls and kiddie pools filled with sand and seashells scattered around the lawn. Decorate drinks with mini paper umbrellas and decorate guests with fake flower leis.
  
  

Refreshments

• Tropical flavors and cool drinks are the key to a well-balanced luau menu. Filling snack selections include crispy coconut shrimp, pit-roasted honey ham, sweet potato fries, Hawaiian sweet rolls, grilled sea scallops and fried clams. Light snack selections include shrimp cocktail, pineapple spears, melon balls, tropical fruit salad and California sushi rolls. Dessert selections can include pineapple upside-down cake, coconut-chocolate cupcakes, mango sorbet, key lime pie and banana cream pie.
  
  Cool nonalcoholic drinks with a luau theme can include water, lemonade, limeade, mango iced tea, citrus soda and fruit punch. Cool alcoholic drinks can include strawberry-lime margaritas, pineapple daiquiris, piña coladas, mango mojitos, mai tais and coconut martinis. Blended "dessert" drinks can include smoothies, such as pineapple juice with orange sherbet and strawberry juice with lemon sherbet.
  
  

Entertainment

• Prepare assorted games and contests to keep guests entertained at a luau. Both pool volleyball and water balloon volleyball fit the luau/beach theme and cool everyone off. A sand-filled bowl and assorted seashells on each table provide guests with a game board and playing pieces for tic-tac-toe. A whole coconut and plastic pineapples provide a ball and pins for a game of beach bowling.
  
  Provide hula hoops for each guest to throw a contest to see who can hoop for the longest time, who can spin the most hoops at one time and who has the best hooping style. Challenge guests to a limbo contest, a "Best Hula Dancer" contest, crab-walk race, pineapple carving contest and coconut chucking contest.