• Don't forget leis for your luau.Hawaiian Laces image by MrGreenBug from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  You don't have to live in Hawaii or on a tropical island to throw a successful luau. A luau-themed party involves creating the appropriate ambiance while providing luau food and beverages to party guests. Presentation of the food and beverages is as important as what is on the menu.
  
  

Invitations

• Set the tone for your luau by sending out luau-themed party invitations, available at card shops. For a greater selection and the ability to customize the greeting, check out online card shops, such as Greeting Card Universe or Zazzle.
  
  

Dress

• Encourage your party guests to dress for the luau and wear Hawaiian-print shirts, dresses and muumuus. Provide flower leis for each guest. Party shops sell paper flower leis, or you can make your own using fresh flowers. Online vendors and florists also sell flower leis.
  
  

Decoration

• For an outside evening party, install tiki torches to provide ambiance lighting. Home improvement and hardware stores typically sell affordable tiki torches, fueled by lamp oil. If held poolside, add some floating candles to the swimming pool. Cover picnic or banquet tables with white butcher paper and line the center of the tables with a row of Hawaiian ti leaves. Use artificial or real flowers and plants, such as palm trees, anthuriums and orchids, as well as decorative shells and fish netting, to create a tropical feel.
  
  

Food

• Serve luau food buffet style and include barbecued chicken, fish, pork or beef, salads, fruit, white rice, sweet bread and desserts. Kalua pig, the classic luau meat, is a pig cooked underground in lava rocks. While digging a large pit in your back yard probably won't be practical, there are recipes for oven versions of kalua pig. Carve out a watermelon half and fill it with pieces of fruit, such as fresh pineapple, melon, strawberries and banana slices. A delicacy of authentic Hawaiian luaus is poi, a paste-like substance made from taro root.
  
  

Beverages

• Serve tropical drinks at your luau, which might include beverages with or without alcohol. Familiar tropical beverages include the mai tai, pina colada, chi chi, blue Hawaiian or fruity punch. Add style to the luau by serving beverages in festive luau-themed glassware or coconut shell cups. Garnish your beverages using a fresh pineapple wedge or tiny orchid.
  
  

Entertainment

• If your budget allows, look for entertainers specializing in Hawaiian music. Another option is to put together a music mix featuring traditional Hawaiian music to use as background music.