Tiki photo by Smudgie's Ghost
A tiki party brings visions of sunny beaches and hula skirts. It is a fun theme for a summer party. If done right, the party can also be set up indoors to brighten up the winter. Cups and plates can have a tropical theme to them. Place tiki torches, surf boards and boogie boards around the area. Decorate the table with ukuleles and cut pineapples. Serve tropical-flavored cupcakes decorated with shredded coconut and fruit-flavored punch. Does this Spark an idea?
Tiki Centerpiece
For a large centerpiece, create a tube out of cardboard. Make it as tall and as wide around as you want. Secure the edges with strong tape or staples. Fasten a piece of cardboard to the bottom. Next, cover it with dark brown paper. Use paint to decorate the tiki. Do not forget to paint the face. Cut the mouth hole and place small rocks inside. Add enough weight so the tiki doesn't tip over. Attach a piece of red paper for the tongue. Place a small speaker inside the tiki and pipe Hawaiian music through the giant tiki.
Tiki Hut
No tiki party is complete without a tiki hut. Start with a square or rectangular table. Fasten four tall bamboo poles to the corners. Build a frame on top of these poles. Take some grass shirts and cut them in half. Layer these on the top frame to form a grass roof. Wrap the poles in strings of lights or flower garlands. Find a tropical print piece of cloth that fits over the table. The material needs to drape to the ground on all sides. You may have to create slits in the material at the four corners to accommodate the bamboo poles.
Leis
Flower garlands or leis are a traditional part of a luau. It is simple to create these garlands out of string and colored paper. Cut the strings into 3-foot lengths. Cut several abstract flower shapes, about 2 inches in diameter, out of brightly colored paper. Using a needle, thread the string through the center of the cut-out flower. Fill half the string. Tie the string ends in a knot. Move one blossom down the string then crumple the next blossom before moving it down the string. You should have a pattern of one plain flower and one crumpled flower around the string. This puffs up the flowers. Once done, you have a paper lei. This is an inexpensive gift to give to partygoers and they last for a long time as long as they do not get wet.
Tags: bamboo poles, colored paper, down string, tiki party