Plan a Hawaiian luau themed reception or banquet to capture the exotic and adventuresome mood of a tropical island paradise.  The Hawaiian luau creates a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere with a celebratory tone, while the vacation resort setting encourages an extra friendly interactivity among guests. Dominated by natural and colorful elements, you will find a wide selection of tropical ideas and decorations.

Colors:  In addition to the theme, use color to maximize the visual impact and provide continuity throughout the venue. For Hawaiian luau and tropical receptions and banquets, use green as a base color reminiscent of lush foliage and plants. Add accents of red, pink, orange, blue, purple, yellow, and spring green symbolic of exotic colorful flowers.

Motifs:  Include motifs and icons representative of tropical islands and Hawaiian culture.  Some easily recognizable items include:

Tiki gods Pineapples Coconuts Hibiscus flowers Suns Dolphins Parrots & Cockatoos Bamboo

Palm trees Hula girls Flower leis Ukuleles Drums Exotic drinks Waves, ocean, water Volcanoes

Dining Tables:  Banquet and reception dining tables are typically rectangular or round. For round dining tables, create similar or duplicate centerpiece displays for each table.  For a rectangular table, you can place a number of theme-related items down the center using a more significant decoration every few chairs. Be sure centerpieces do not obstruct eye contact between guests on opposite sides of the table.

Use a white tablecloth and lay tropical foliage down the center of the tables as a lush backdrop for Hawaiian luau decorations, or scatter brightly-colored silk Hibiscus flowers. Add height every few chairs with carved-wood tiki gods and wood tiki drums. Fill the space in between with smaller items, such as small tiki gods, metallic palm trees, and frosted etched-bamboo-leaf votive candle holders.

Mix textures and styles to add interest to your table. Here we use characters made from coconuts, such as this hula girl, monkey, carved wooden tiki gods, metallic palm trees, and colorful silk hibiscus flowers for a Hawaiian luau centerpiece. You may also opt to use real pineapples and add beaded palm tree and pineapple tealight holders for lighting and variety.

For round table centerpieces, position the coconut hula girl and monkey facing opposite directions, the tall carved wood tiki god,  a real pineapple, and/or the wood tiki drum in the center. Or use a tropical island display of a hammock and palm tree as the focal point. Place small tiki gods, etched-bamboo-leaf votive candle holders, metallic palm trees, and/or the beaded pineapple and palm tree tealights around the center, depending upon your budget.

Head Table:  The head table is usually a rectangular table in the front of the room with the hosts and guests facing the other diners. This table is sometimes more elaborately decorated and should be skirted across the front. You may use a grass table skirt decorated with hibiscus flowers or colored grass skirt across the front.

Entrance:  Make a big first impression by decorating the entrance area and reception table with unique touches. If permitted, align the front walk with tiki torches. Use palm tree string lights or sea shell string lights at the sign-in table or in the reception area. Hang tiki god masks on each side of the doorway into the banquet hall or reception area. Place metal palm tree votive candles or red, green, pink, purple, blue, and orange votive candle holders on the welcome table. Use a canoe for gifts instead of a skirted table.

Food:  Food service and buffet tables are another way to incorporate fun and unique highlights to your event. Most banquets and receptions offer either hors d'oeuvres passed butler style or an appetizer spread. When passing hors d'oeuvres arrange for Hawaiian island themed centerpieces in some or all of the trays as they are passed, such as the metallic pineapple weight, blue parrot head, and palm tree & pineapple tealight holders.

For an hors d'oeuvre and appetizer food table, arrange the food around a decorated center with a tiki mask statue or large metallic palm tree centerpiece. Place bamboo-leaf etched or red, green, pink, blue, orange, and purple votive candle holders at varying heights on a green tablecloth. For a dinner buffet, use green and pink mini-lights or sea shell string lights.

Bar & Cocktails:  If you are using a skirted table for a bar, continue the Hawaiian luau theme with the tiki mask statue and a few sprinkles of tropical island confetti. Or place a few smaller items, such as, the small tiki god, palm tree votive candle holder, metallic palm tree or pineapple weight. Hang a Tiki Bar plaque sign behind each bar.

Depending upon the size of your crowd, put detailed tiki beverage napkins out for display and have the bartenders use pink & green beverage napkins for service to reduce costs for a large group. And, of course, garnish each drink with a parasol pick aka drink umbrella.

Ceiling:  Decorating the ceiling of your banquet hall or reception area goes a long way in filling the space and making your event unique. Some options to consider are swags of tulle with green and pink mini-lights. Or hang large pieces of fabric in green with smaller pieces or splashes of red, pink, blue, spring green, purple and orange. For a fun and uplifting display, string garlands of flowers from the rafters.

Flowers & Plants:  Including the natural element of flowers and plants adds another dimension to your banquet and reception decorations, and you can't go wrong with lots of exotic flowers and lush plants for a tropical island theme.  As large centerpieces or small accents, flowers make a beautiful addition of color and freshness to your event decor. Make your floral displays unique with red, green, pink, purple, amber, and blue submersible LED lights that light up the vase holding each arrangement. While strategically placed potted plants give a vast hall a much more comfortable and natural ambiance. Insert real or silk tropical flowers in your potted plants.

Hawaiian Leis & Beads:  Not only do Hawaiian leis add to the festive atmosphere, you can also use them for decorations throughout your venue.  Adorn your gift, food, and reception tables with these flower wreaths for a colorful display as you use them to welcome each guest.

For an extra dose of fun, also surprise your guests with party beads in red, green, pink, blue, purple, orange, and yellow for a Hawaiian luau or tropical island themed reception or banquet. Use party beads as napkin rings at each place setting or fill a bowl or large martini glass at the bar. Beads make a great party favor and unique decoration that your guests will enjoy throughout the evening.