How to Throw a 1st Birthday Luau Party
Lauren Miolene
Editor
A baby’s 1st birthday is a big deal—one whole year old! That calls for celebration. Skip the generic 1st birthday party ideas and have a 1st birthday luau to celebrate your little one’s first 365 days.
Light the tiki torches because it’s time to have a party! Celebrate the special day by transporting guests to a tropical getaway for the ultimate Hawaiian theme first birthday experience.
Here is a step-by-step guide to throw a 1st birthday luau party.
Step 1: Pick a Date and Venue
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First things first when planning any event is picking a day to celebrate. Choose a date on or around your little one’s birthday to spend time together with friends and family.
Booking a venue for a luau themed party is easy because it’s best to have it outside. Keep things simple by having the 1st birthday luau in your backyard or at a local beach. Decorate the area with palm trees, tiki torches, floral arrangements, and other tropical plants to make guests feel like they took a trip to the Aloha State.
Step 2: Send Invitations
It’s recommended to send invitations anywhere from six to three weeks prior to a celebration. This allows ample time for you and guests to prepare, especially when there is a theme involved. Include information about the luau dress code so guests can get their best floral prints and grass skirts ready!
Step 3: Find Entertainment
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Picking the right form of entertainment for any event is crucial. The Bash has vendors that will make the perfect addition to your child’s 1st birthday luau party. Here are a few of our favorites for a luau themed party:
Hula Dancers
Is it even possible to have a Hawaiian luau without hula dancers? Watch a performance or learn traditional Hawaiian moves right from the professionals.
Steel Drummer
There is something very relaxing about the steel drums. Incorporate this mellow ambient music during the birthday bash to really help set the tropical mood.
Ukulele Player
You can’t help but feel a sense of happiness while listening to ukulele music. This is an instrument guests of all ages will enjoy listening to.
Face Painter
Since this is a first birthday party, there will most likely be other little ones in attendance. Hire a face painter to paint flowers and other luau themed items.
Balloon Twister
A balloon twister can create luau themed balloons for guests to take home as party favors. You can also have them twist some creations to act as decor too!
Step 4: Plan for Food and Drinks
One of the most important components of any successful party is food and drinks. If a traditional Hawaiian pig roast isn’t what you envisioned, these luau themed ideas will be just as festive.
Grilled Hawiian Chicken Kabobs
Grilled kabobs are a *must* for hosting a luau because they are easy to make and completely customizable. Swap the chicken for beef or pork, or skip the meat altogether for a vegetarian option. Get the recipe from Fox and Briar to start planning the menu!
Pro Tip: If being in the kitchen isn't your favorite thing, you can hire caterers that can cook for any group of people. You can even find caterers that specialize in Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures to fit the luau theme.
Spicy Tuna Poke Cups
Poke is a Hawaiian delicacy that is made with raw fish, rice, and different sauces, almost like sushi in a bowl. Make individually sized poke cups for guests to snack on during the 1st birthday luau. Read this recipe from Food Fanatic and find other ingredients to include.
Mai Tai
A 1st birthday is just as much for the parents as it is for the guest of honor, so don’t forget about the drinks! A Mai Tai is the unofficial cocktail of the beach, so they need to make an appearance at the luau party. Leave the rum out for a fruity and sweet mocktail all guests can enjoy. Get the full recipe from Pixels and Pop.
Pineapple Lemonade
Sip on some sunshine with this refreshing pineapple lemonade from Make Life Lovely. This all-natural recipe is made with fresh pineapple, lemon juice, water, and honey to make the ultimate tropical beverage for a birthday luau.
Pro Tip: Don’t get stuck behind the counter making drinks. Book a bartender so you can sit back and enjoy your little one’s special first birthday.
Beach Pudding Cups
These individual beach pudding cups from Mommy’s Fabulous Finds are too cute and will make the perfect dessert for a luau birthday party. Vanilla pudding layered with crushed golden cookie “sand” and topped with graham cracker bears will get everyone into the beachy mood. Don’t forget to finish off with a colorful umbrella!
Food Trucks
Enjoy your baby’s first birthday and leave the meal prep up to the professionals. Find food trucks to fit the luau theme here on The Bash. Guests will love the variety of options to choose from when you book multiple food trucks for the celebration.
Step 5: Games and Activities
Keeping guests occupied during a birthday party can be a challenge. Luckily, there are a number of exciting luau games that guests of all ages can enjoy.
Flamingo Ring Toss
This flamingo ring toss from Sugar & Cloth makes the perfect luau game and doubles as party decor, who doesn’t love that?! Incorporate plastic flamingos throughout the event space for guests to play a game of ring toss. This is the perfect tropical twist on a classic backyard game.
Luau Limbo
How low can you go?! You can’t have a luau party without a limbo contest. Get everyone up, moving, and dancing around to Hawaiian music with this party tradition. Check out this DIY tropical limbo game from Chic Party Idea.
Watermelon Cornhole
Who doesn’t love a game of cornhole? Change things up for the 1st birthday luau by transforming your traditional cornhole boards into fun fruit!
Read these DIY instructions from Brite & Bubbly.
Step 6: Order the Cake
Photo: Luiza Kamalova/Shutterstock.com
For a first birthday, it’s common to order two cakes for the celebration; one to actually eat, and the other one to use as a smash cake. A smash cake is typically a smaller cake just for the one year old to completely dig into. It ends up being messy, but the pictures are something you’ll cherish forever!
Pro Tip: Don’t miss a moment of the big day. From exciting entertainment to blowing out the candles, you’re going to want to remember it all. Hire a photographer to capture every detail.
Step 7: Make a Day-Of To-Do List
With emotions running high, we recommend making a to-do list so the day can run as smoothly as possible. Include tasks like picking up the cake, arranging party favors, and of course, making sure the guest of honor is awake, dressed, and ready to celebrate their big day.
If you have family members or friends who can come early to help with some prep, take advantage and assign them some day-of to-dos too!
Step 8: Confirm Last Minute Details and Set Up
There is nothing worse than when guests begin to arrive while you’re running around trying to put the finishing touches on everything. And, we know having a one-year-old can make this even trickier!
Before the party begins, give yourself plenty of time to confirm that entertainment and/or any other vendors are on their way, set up final decorations, and make sure everything is ready for the party to begin. Extra help from friends and family will come in handy here.
Step 9: Enjoy Your Little One’s 1st Birthday Luau
Now that the special day is here and the months of planning are over—enjoy it! Grab a Mai Tai and spend the day with friends and family to celebrate your little one. A first birthday is a big milestone, so take it all in!Find more kids birthday party ideas and inspiration here on The Bash.
