8076

Hawaiian Party 3yr - Cardboard Palm Trees

Feb. 2004

Natasha in Fitzgerald, GA  USA

Honorable Mention

For my daughter Isabella's 3rd birthday, we decided to have a luau/hawaiian themed party. 

We started planning months in advance, which helped out tremendously.  So naturally we started with invitations made from hibiscus print paper, that read, "Aloha ____"  You're invited to The Grand (last name) Resort to celebrate (name's) birthday.  It went on to list the date and address and time. We live next to a church, so there's a parking lot that leads to our walkway.  The walk was lined with tiki torches that lead to our front porch.  We placed flamingo yard ornaments in between them.  Around the front door I had cut out, of cardboard, a totem pole, using spray paint, chalk, and markers I drew on the faces. 

Fresh flowers were placed around the front porch for a true Hawaiian feel.  As guests arrived they were greeted with leis that matched their hawaiian attire.  I had purchased the birthday girl a grass skirt and she wore a bright pink tank top.  I had turned our dining room into a tiki hut, using fabric I purchased(at Walmart), raffia, cardboard, and grass tablecloths (from oriental trading).  I had borrowed 2 tables for the food and cake and covered them with green table cloths.  I purchased grass skirt table cloths from a party store and attached them to the bottoms of the tables. (A gift table was set up with the same grass skirt table cloth.  

I found cardboard tubing (freebie) at work and attached some leaves to make palm trees to sit around the corners of the "tiki hut".  I also used potted plants for a truer feel. A tissue parrot in tropical colors hung in one corner.  I made a surfboard out of cardboard and spray painted it pink and found a hibiscus sponge to decorate flowers on it.  The walls were draped in the fabric that was a taupe color and tied back with the raffia.  It looked very authentic. 

My husband made a volcano out of cardboard to look like it was at a distance, that was placed outside a window.  The tables were decorated with tropical fish and seashell candles.  

We kept the food simple by providing make-your-own sandwiches.  The deli trays contained cold cut varieties (roast beef, turkey, ham, salami, and bologna), Different rolls and breads, and of course a relish tray with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, etc.  Condiments were also provided.  I purchased seashell bowls to serve chips in.  And coconut cups(from oriental trading) were a hit for the drinks.  They were adorable and everyone thought they were certainly festive.   

The cake was decorated by a local bakery with a tropical scene.  And a number 3 candle adorned the top.  I purchased different types of tableware in hibiscus print, tropical fish, and palm trees.  The kids enjoyed different games, like the tropical fish bean bag toss and pineapple/coconut bowling.  I was able to find a pinata to tie into the theme and filled it with lots of candy.  The kids LOVED it!!! 

Goodie bags were filled with hibiscus print pencils, fish notepads, "aloha" bubbles, tropical stickers, and an inflatable hawaiian beach ball.  Pictures were taken of all the guests and mailed to them with their thank you notes.  The party was such a success and we're looking forward to planning our other daughter's birthday!!!

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