Remember Me
forgot your password?

Say Aloha to a Birthday Luau

Aloha.

My daughter Maggie (age 6) wanted to get in on the current luau craze by having a hula girl birthday party. The fact that her birthday is in late November made me hesitate but I love a good birthday party challenge so we went for it anyway. Follow the steps below and you can have a hip-Hawaiian-bash any time of the year.

Step 1: Activities

We started by planning a craft; hula skirts. Armed with a about $20 and an idea we went to the craft store to find streamers, flowers, and ribbon. The ribbon was cut into strips long enough to fit around a child’s waist (with room to tie). Next, we took 1 roll of green and 1 roll of yellow crepe streamers and cut them into 2 ft strips.

When the kids arrived they simply grabbed some streamer strips and taped them to a piece of ribbon. Next they took a few small faux flowers and used double sided tape to stick them to the ribbon as well. Viola, a grass skirt is born.

Step 2: Games

Rummaging through our CDs we were able to put together a mix of upbeat tropical tunes. If you want to save time there are plenty of Luau CDs for sale at party stores and on the internet. I was trying to stick to a tight budget so we used our own music and the CD burner on my computer. This music mix became the base for most of our party games.

My daughter was in charge of the limbo stick. She decorated a piece of PVC pipe from the hardware store using stickers and more streamers. My 4 year old got involved as well and it really turned out great!

Once the craft was completed we turned on the tropical tunes and had a game of Freeze Hula Dance. That was followed by several rounds of Limbo. The kids enjoyed this so much we almost ran out of prizes. Then we put the music back on and had hula hoop contests. My goal: keep them moving!

Step 3: Food, Glorious Food

Is there anything more satisfying than turning off the lights and watching all those little eyes sparkle as they stare at the birthday cake? I know the cake was a deal-breaker when I was a kid so the pressure was on to come with something great.

My idea was to adapt the classic doll cake and make her into a Hawaiian beauty. I didn’t want to purchase a special doll-cake mold so I used a 2 quart Pyrex bowl instead. A bundt pan would be another possibility. I used a doll pick (upper body only) from a craft store for my hula girl; much easier than trying to shove Barbie’s legs into a cake or even worse…amputate them.
The next step was to decorate the cake with green frosting and drag a fork down the frosting to make it look like a wavy grass skirt. Flower shaped candies were placed around the waistline and a small silk flower was pinned to the doll’s hair. I made a delicious bikini top out of fruit leather and then sprinkled crushed graham crackers onto the platter to look like sand.

Mission accomplished. My daughter’s party was a huge success and we didn’t break the bank to do it. Everyone had a blast and the cake was definitely the highlight of the whole event. In the end I think you have as much fun getting ready for the party as you have during the party!

Michelle Normand

Michelle Normand is a freelance writer living in Dublin, Ohio. She is also the author of 30-Minute Mandalas. For more information about the author or links to her articles, please visit her website at http://www.30minutemandalas.com .

Rate this Article: 5 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Home and Family Articles
  • More from Michelle Normand

Gadgets to Add to Your Culinary Collection

By: Patrick Carpen | 16/11/2009
This article features a few common culinary gadgets that you will likely find to be a necessity in your kitchen collection.

Feng Shui Mistakes: Avoid These 7 Feng Shui Mistakes To Create A Calm, Serene, and Peaceful Life

By: Amy C. | 16/11/2009
You are about to learn the 7 brutal feng shui mistakes most people make and how to avoid them.

How To Best Fill Your Gun Cabinets

By: James Dulas | 16/11/2009
Gun cabinets are very nice home fixtures, there's no doubt about that. But the true gun aficionado is more concerned with the contents of the gun cabinet.

How To Best Fill Your Gun Cabinets

By: James Dulas | 16/11/2009
Gun cabinets are very nice home fixtures, there's no doubt about that. But the true gun aficionado is more concerned with the contents of the gun cabinet.

Veterans Day Trivia Quiz – Twenty Quiz Questions with Answers

By: William Lund | 15/11/2009
Well, this was a pretty quiet Veterans Day. I didn’t go anywhere or celebrate in any particular way, but it sounds like an excuse to put up an article consisting of about twenty quiz questions involving Veterans Day and or military and war trivia questions and the like.

10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Neighbourhood

By: Elizabeth McLachlan | 15/11/2009
Where you live is as important as the house you live in. Maybe you have a good idea of where you want to live but don't let that keep you from looking at other neighborhoods. While looking around, don't forget to check the statistics, ask questions, do your research, and...

Unique Wedding Decoration Ideas For An Unforgettable Event

By: Paul Easton | 15/11/2009
The wedding decor should be chosen carefully, taking into account even the smallest details. You should decide which colors will be used, then you can try various combinations, funny or romantic, classical, modern or games of color that create a dynamic atmosphere, full of energy.

A Different Approach to Teaching Kids

By: Soophott Lert | 15/11/2009
Kids of different ages learn by different methods. For example, a toddler that has just turned two might enjoy finger painting, while an 8 year old girl will enjoy playing with her dolls. While various age groups learn by using different material, one thing is true for all age groups: Kids learn best with toys.

Feed your Face: Top 5 Foods for a Better Complexion

By: Michelle Normand | 20/02/2008 | Anti Aging
They say you are what you eat. No amount of cosmetics or mail-order, miracle creams can fix a complexion damaged by unhealthy habits. Keep reading to see what you can do to feed your face a healthy diet and get the skin your body deserves.

Celtic Symbols: Finding Meaning in Celtic Art

By: Michelle Normand | 20/02/2008 | Art
Thanks to the popularity of Celtic Women, Riverdance, and the Irish Tenors, there has been a rise in interest in all-things Celtic. Celtic art, with it's mysterious symbolism and ancient history is peaking the interest of everyday Americans. This article reveals some of the meanings attributed to the most noteworthy Celtic symbols: i.e knots, spirals, etc and hopefully gives some insight into the beauty and spirituality of these ancient people.

The Mandala Cure: End Anxiety Today

By: Michelle Normand | 21/09/2007 | Wellness
Learn about an ancient art form that has been used for centuries to guide meditations, increase awareness, and treat anxiety. Open up to the simple power of mandalas and close the door on panic, stress, and pain.

Turning Back the Hands of Time

By: Michelle Normand | 21/09/2007 | Cosmetics
Fraxel your Freckles. Hot trend in skin recovery, the fraxel laser may be the best thing to happen to the cosmetic surgery industry.

You Say Yogurt, I Say Yiaourti. It's All Greek to Me

By: Michelle Normand | 21/09/2007 | Nutrition
You think you've had yogurt before but you've never experienced the taste sensation of Greek yiaourti.

Say Aloha to a Birthday Luau

By: Michelle Normand | 21/09/2007 | Home & Family
Follow this simple party tips for a perfect birthday luau. There's no need to bust your budget in order to have a great party for your hula girl.

Easy Meditation Through Active (coloring) Meditation

By: Michelle Normand | 31/08/2007 | Meditation
If you can color, you can meditate. Have you have ever wanted to meditate but struggled to sit still (or even stay awake)? Then read on... Great for beginners, coloring as a form of active meditation is an enjoyable way to achieve a relaxed state. Reap all of the benefits that meditation has to offer by using this simple, and enjoyable technique.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (1.96, 6, w2)