Fun-Filled Activities and Games for an Unforgettable Hawaiian Luau Party

Planning a Hawaiian luau party means immersing your guests in the vibrant and lively spirit of the islands. Alongside the delicious food and tropical decor, incorporating entertaining activities and games will take your party to the next level. In this blog post, we'll share a collection of fun-filled ideas that will keep your guests engaged, laughing, and creating lasting memories at your Hawaiian luau extravaganza.

1. Hula Hoop Contest:

   No luau is complete without a hula hoop contest. Set up an area with hula hoops of various sizes and invite your guests to showcase their hip-swirling skills. Award prizes for the longest spin, the most creative moves, or the best overall performance. It's guaranteed to be a hit!
   

2. Limbo Competition:

   Get your guests grooving to the beat of tropical music with a classic limbo competition. Use a bamboo pole or a long stick as the limbo bar, and have participants take turns bending backward to pass under it without touching the ground. Lower the bar after each round until you crown the ultimate limbo champion.
   

3. Poi Ball Toss:

   Organize a poi ball toss activity to engage your guests in a traditional Hawaiian skill. Poi balls are weighted balls attached to cords, traditionally used by the Hawaiians for dance performances. Set up targets, such as baskets or hula hoop targets, and challenge your guests to throw the poi balls into the targets from various distances. Award points for accuracy and distance.
   

4. Tropical Photo Booth:

   Create a Hawaiian-themed photo booth complete with props, accessories, and tropical backdrops. Provide a selection of flower leis, straw hats, sunglasses, and inflatable palm trees for guests to pose with. Encourage them to capture fun and memorable moments throughout the party. Consider setting up a Polaroid camera or a photo booth app for instant photo prints.
   

5. Hawaiian Luau Bingo:

   Put a Hawaiian twist on the classic game of Bingo by customizing it to fit your luau theme. Replace the numbers on the Bingo cards with Hawaiian words or images, such as palm trees, pineapples, hula dancers, or ukuleles. Call out the Hawaiian terms, and players mark their cards accordingly. Offer small prizes for winning patterns like a line, four corners, or a full card.
   

6. Tropical Treasure Hunt:

   Organize a Hawaiian-themed treasure hunt for your guests. Hide small tropical-themed items like seashells, mini ukuleles, or small plush pineapples around the party area. Provide guests with clues or a treasure map, leading them to the hidden treasures. The excitement and adventure of the hunt will add an extra layer of fun to your luau party.
   

7. Coconut Bowling:

   Transform ordinary coconuts into bowling balls for a tropical spin on the classic game of bowling. Set up a makeshift bowling alley using empty plastic bottles as pins and encourage guests to take turns rolling coconuts towards the pins. Award points for each pin knocked down and keep a leaderboard throughout the party.
   

8. Hawaiian Craft Corner:

   Set up a Hawaiian craft corner where guests can engage in creative activities. Provide supplies for lei-making using fresh flowers or colorful paper flowers. Guests can also decorate their own mini tiki masks or design their unique seashell necklaces. This allows everyone to express their creativity and take home a personalized keepsake.
   

Hosting a Hawaiian luau party is all about creating a joyful and immersive experience for your guests. By incorporating these exciting activities and games into your celebration, you'll ensure that everyone has a fantastic time and leaves with cherished memories. So, grab your hula hoops, practice your limbo skills, and get ready to have an unforgettable tropical party.

A Beginner's Guide to Crafting Delicious Hawaiian-Inspired Dishes

Aloha, aspiring culinary adventurers! If you've always been enchanted by the flavors of Hawaii but feel intimidated to tackle Hawaiian cuisine as a beginner, fear not. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of creating mouthwatering Hawaiian-inspired dishes, even if you're a novice in the kitchen. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey filled with tropical delights and exotic flavors.

1. Start with Simple Staples:

   As a beginner, it's best to begin with dishes that have a few key ingredients and straightforward preparation. Consider starting with classics like Hawaiian-style grilled chicken or teriyaki salmon. These recipes often require basic seasonings, such as soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and brown sugar, which can be easily found in your pantry.

2. Embrace Fresh Tropical Fruits:

One of the hallmarks of Hawaiian cuisine is the abundant use of fresh tropical fruits. Incorporate pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, and papayas into your dishes to add a burst of flavor and natural sweetness. Create a tropical fruit salad, use fruit as a topping for grilled meats, or blend them into smoothies for a refreshing treat.

3. Explore Poke Bowls:

Poke bowls have gained immense popularity worldwide, and they're a fantastic option for beginners. These customizable bowls feature cubed raw fish (typically tuna or salmon) marinated in a flavorful sauce, served over a bed of rice or greens, and topped with various toppings like avocado, seaweed, edamame, and sesame seeds. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavor profile.

4. Master the Art of Kalua Pig:

Kalua pig is a traditional Hawaiian dish that is cooked in an underground oven called an imu. As recreating an imu might not be feasible, you can still achieve delicious results using a slow cooker or Instant Pot. The recipe calls for a pork shoulder or butt, Hawaiian sea salt, liquid smoke, and a few other seasonings. Allow the meat to cook low and slow until it becomes tender and succulent.

5. Incorporate Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts are a beloved ingredient in Hawaiian cuisine, adding a rich and buttery flavor to dishes. They can be used as a topping for salads, added to baked goods like cookies or bread, or even transformed into a creamy macadamia nut sauce to accompany seafood or vegetables.

6. Experiment with Hawaiian BBQ:

Hawaiian BBQ is a tantalizing fusion of American and Asian flavors. It typically involves marinating meats, such as chicken, ribs, or beef, in a sweet and savory sauce that includes soy sauce, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, and pineapple juice. Grill the marinated meat to perfection and serve it with rice and a side of macaroni salad—a staple in Hawaiian plate lunches.

7. Delight in Haupia:

Haupia is a traditional Hawaiian coconut pudding that serves as a delightful dessert option. Made with coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch, haupia has a silky smooth texture and a delicate coconut flavor. Serve it chilled in small squares or as a complement to other desserts like pineapple upside-down cake or mango sticky rice.

8. Learn from Authentic Sources:

To gain more confidence and expand your Hawaiian culinary repertoire, consider exploring cookbooks written by renowned Hawaiian chefs or seek inspiration from reputable online sources. These resources will provide you with authentic recipes and techniques passed down through generations, helping you elevate your cooking skills.

Embarking on a Hawaiian culinary adventure as a beginner is an exciting and rewarding experience. By starting with simple recipes, incorporating fresh tropical fruits, exploring poke bowls, mastering Kalua pig, using macadamia nuts, experimenting with Hawaiian BBQ and exploring blogs with authentic Hawaiian dishes, you will surely impress your guests.

How to Throw a Spectacular Hawaiian Lu'au Party in Toronto, Canada

Introduction: Aloha! If you're looking to infuse your event with a tropical vibe, there's no better way than hosting a Hawaiian lu'au party. Whether it's a summer celebration, a birthday bash, or simply a gathering of friends and family, a lu'au is sure to transport your guests to the enchanting islands of Hawaii. In this blog post, we'll provide you with a guide on how to throw an unforgettable Hawaiian lu'au party right here in Toronto, Canada.

1. Create an Island-Inspired Atmosphere: Transform your venue into a tropical paradise with vibrant decorations. Think tiki torches, colorful flowers like hibiscus and orchids, and bamboo accents. Hang string lights or lanterns to create an intimate ambiance as the sun sets. Don't forget to add some tropical music to set the mood!

2. Dress the Part: Encourage your guests to embrace the Hawaiian spirit by dressing in festive attire. Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, leis, and flower crowns are all great options. You can even provide a few extra accessories for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the theme.

3. Traditional Hawaiian Cuisine: A key element of any lu'au is the delicious food. Prepare a menu that showcases traditional Hawaiian dishes. Include options such as Kalua pig (slow-cooked pork), poke bowls (marinated raw fish), lomi-lomi salmon, chicken long rice, and haupia (coconut pudding). For vegetarians and vegans, consider offering dishes like tofu poke or grilled pineapple skewers.

4. Signature Tropical Drinks: No lu'au is complete without refreshing tropical beverages. Serve classic drinks like mai tais, piña coladas, and blue Hawaiians. Create a DIY tiki bar where guests can mix their own cocktails, providing a variety of tropical fruits, syrups, and garnishes. Don't forget to offer non-alcoholic options like pineapple punch or coconut water.

5. Engaging Entertainment: To truly transport your guests to the islands, incorporate authentic Hawaiian entertainment. Consider hiring hula dancers or a Polynesian dance group to perform traditional dances such as the hula or the mesmerizing fire knife dance. Ahem:) That’s us! You can also teach your guests some basic hula moves or organize a limbo competition for added fun. We got the hula lesson and limbo if you want in our show so we got you covered.

5. Games and Activities: Keep the party lively with interactive games and activities. Set up a poi ball throwing station, where guests can learn to twirl poi balls, a traditional Hawaiian skill. Another popular option is a coconut bowling alley or a Hawaiian-themed photo booth with props and accessories. These activities will ensure your guests have a memorable and engaging experience.

6. Decorative Crafts: Encourage creativity by providing supplies for lei-making or flower crown crafting. This hands-on activity will not only add to the atmosphere but also serve as a wonderful souvenir for your guests to take home.

7. Hawaiian-Inspired Favors: Express your appreciation to your guests with thoughtful Hawaiian-inspired party favors. Consider giving out mini ukuleles, seashell necklaces, or personalized mini jars of Hawaiian sea salt. These small tokens will leave a lasting impression and extend the Hawaiian spirit beyond the party itself.

Hosting a Hawaiian lu'au party in Toronto allows you to transport your guests to a tropical paradise. By incorporating these tips, you can create an unforgettable experience that embraces Hawaiian culture, delicious food, vibrant decorations, engaging entertainment, and plenty of aloha spirit. So get ready to say "Mahalo" as your guests bid farewell, filled with memories of an incredible lu'au celebration right here in Canada.

Wooing Big Name Clients!

When Google and Coca-Cola planned a lu'au party to appreciate their employees they recruited The Hawaiian Dance Company to make it happen.

For a small company with under 8 performers we have managed to gather an impressive list of clients including appearances on TV Show, In-Law Weddings Wars, a private party for NHL Philadelphia flyers player,  Salesforce, CIBC, Grand & Toy, The Canadian Forces and many many more. 

La'aina Mo'ungaloa, the mother and reason this company exists today says "Today in most cities you cannot find real Polynesians willing to come out and hula for strangers. Not because we don't love other people but it is not our culture to dance at anything but our families special occasions and most of the girls and boys would be too shy.  It was my daughter who told me that people want to see the hula and they actually have lu'au's like we do!  I'm so happy she told me because now we have so many happy clients that love our culture just as much as we do!"   

We makes it very easy for a host to plan their event worry free because we will have everyone up and celebrating with our dancers.  We emcee the whole show, dance passionately to Tahitian drums, teach guests to hula and then we have a thrilling fire show that will melt any worries away!

We now provide shows to hundreds of clients each year including companies, schools, retirement residences, tv shows since its beginnings in 2010.

Hawaiian Hula Dancer for Birthday Parties, Anniversaries, Corporate Events and Kid’s Parties in Toronto