Taste the tropics at your next beach theme party. Serve up these five simple luau recipes straight from the islands, without worrying about complicated concoctions.
Side Dish: Sweet Potatoes
A perfect compliment to roasted meat, this side dish blends all the tastes associated with the islands.
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 large can yams
2 bananas, sliced
4 tbsp melted butter
2 tbsp rum
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup chopped macadamia nuts
Put yams in a glass baking dish, and add bananas. Combine butter, rum and sugar, and then pour this over the yam/banana mixture. Sprinkle nuts on top, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
Side Dish: Lomi Lomi Salmon
The way to prepare this fish dish means "massage" in Hawaiian.
Ingredients You Will Need:
4 cups tomatoes, diced
2 white onions, diced
3 lbs diced salmon
10 green onions, chopped
Place tomatoes and onions into a medium bowl, then combine with the salmon. Use your fingers to break fish into small bits. Chill the mixture until just before serving, and then toss in green onions.
Entrée: Kalua Pua'a
No luau would be complete without roasted pork, make the Hawaiian way. If you can't roast it underground, try this version.
Ingredients You Will Need:
3 lbs pork butt
3 tbsp sea salt
½ gallon water
1 head cabbage
Rinse pork butts in cold water, then place in a medium roasting pan. Rub salt on pork surfaces. Add water and cover pork with cabbage leaves. Cover the whole roasting pan with foil, making sure there is nowhere for steam to escape. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 2½ to 3 hours. Remove foil and cabbage. Shred pork and serve.
Dessert: Haupia
This stiff pudding is smooth and sweet; the perfect way to balance out the salty, savory foods eaten earlier.
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 can coconut milk
1 ½ cups water
½ cup sugar
¾ cup cornstarch
Mix all ingredients together, and stir until smooth. Pour into a medium saucepan over medium heat, and stir until thickened. Turn heat down to low, and stir for 10 more minutes. Then pour the mixture into a flat pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator until set. Slice into squares and serve.
 | Whether it is summer or winter, a luau party will be a thrill for you and your friends. You can try a tiki theme with kitschy drinks, or you can focus on Hawaiian culture by teaching everyone the hula and serving up traditional Hawaiian dishes, like poi. |
 | To create an authentic atmosphere for a luau, you just need a few decorations, the right music and plenty of luau party supplies. |
Luau activities should reflect the beachfront theme of the event, making some popular beach and party games a natural fit. |
Don't have palm trees and sand in your backyard? Set the stage for a memorable luau by making some tropical-themed luau decorations. |
Thinking of throwing a luau for your child's birthday, classroom, or playgroup? Hawaiian luau and beach-theme parties for children are popular, easy, and fun. Throw some games into your mix of tropical activities and prepare for a tidal wave of giggles. |
