I was going to suggest Oriental Trading - they have alot of Luau stuff to choose from. Frozen drinks are always a good idea and you may want to consider ham with pineapple, pineapple pizza and veggies too. Punch with coconut- heck anything with coconut. OK I cant do this- now I'm hungry!! LOL
Thanks for the information about the type of decorations that were used at the elementary school luau. I think we will need to come up with some additional party props -- considering the age and (supposed) maturity of middle school students. The animals sound like fun but I think they might not go over too well at this age level. Things like Tiki poles and torches (without the flames) might work along with palm trees and some painted backdrops. I need to check into the price of leis for around 350 kids. Any sources you know of, besides Oriental Trading Co, for reasonable prices of bulk merchandise?
I think the kids are going to attend this luau in semi-formal clothes so we may be limited in what we can come up with. We are looking moreso for setting up island flare.
Keep in mind that this was for an elementary school - we had cardboard fish cut-outs on the walls and hung blow up fish and parrots off streamers in the gym. Our art teacher made paper palm trees and pineapples to put out. And we also dressed up large stuffed animals with sunglasses, tropical shirts and sandals in the school lobby - where the principal was handing leis out to everyone. And one of the moms made a sunset backdrop for pictures. It was a fun time - getting out the shorts and flip-flops in February.
All that being said, if the kids want their semi-formal dance back - go for it!
I think the administration is wrong for tampering with the tradition of the 8th grade dance. A group of concerned students gathered over 250 signatures on a petition to change the dance back to semiformal attire. The result -- the administration now says that if the students want a semiformal, then they can certainly attend in semiformal attire. The kids can dress up.
I admire the students for standing their ground. After all, it is THEIR dance. Now we need to come up with something festive for that evening.
I was considering rental of a shaved ice (snow cone) machine. The frozen drink machine might be easier to find for rental purposes.
What type of decorations did you use for the luau in Feb?
We had a Luau at our elementary school in Feb - and had a blast! If $ isn't too tight, check into renting a frozen drink maker. We did virgin pina coladas and daquiris for the kids -complete with little umbrellas in the drinks. They loved it!
If the students want to dress up, why is the administration trying to change it? When I was in high school, our Homecoming dance was supposed to be informal but in 3 years time went to formal because no matter what the admin said, everyone wanted to dressup and feel good about themselves. Unless you ask the students to dress in grass skirts, I'm sure they will still dress up. Just my 2 cents.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
Now we need to come up with something festive for that evening.