July 28th, 2010
Hawaiian shirts, also known as Aloha shirts on the islands, have a long history stretching back to the early 20th century. First designed in the 1930s by Ellery Chun, a Chinese merchant living in Waikiki, the Hawaiian shirt soon became a popular fashion item amongst US servicemen returning home from World War 2. From there, their popularity snowballed, hastened by the tourist rush to the Hawaiian islands in the 1950s. A number of high profile Hawaiian shirt wearers certainly helped to boost the credibility of the shirts also, as we shall discover.
Elvis Presley – Elvis loved Hawaii and as well as performing a number of legendary shows there, he acted in a number of movies set in and around the islands. He is reputed to have had a large collection of Hawaiian shirts, which he often donned during shows.
Weird Al Yankovic – A performer of a completely different nature, parody creator/singer Weird Al Yankovic has built a successful career out of a kooky and colourful persona, and is regularly featured in videos and on album covers wearing outlandish aloha shirts which match his zany personality.
Hunter S. Thompson - Legendary author of Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson certainly had a uniquely exuberant dress sense, and would often compliment his aviator style glasses, hats and trademark cigarette holder with a wildly exotic Hawaiian shirt.
Tom Selleck – During the 80s, Tom Selleck popularised the Hawaiian shirt further with his depiction of a private investigator working in Hawaii, in the hit series, Magnum PI. His moustache was an unfortunate addition to the look.
Tags: Elvis Presley, Hawaii, hawaiian costume, hawaiian costumes, Hawaiian shirt, Hawaiian shirts, Tom Selleck
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July 14th, 2010
At the beginning of August, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, the annual Aloha festival will take place in San Francisco at the Presidio Parade Grounds. The event, now in its tenth year, is a celebration of the culture of Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders. Each year the exciting event brings thousands of Islanders and others together in what is one of the largest organised gatherings of Hawaiian Islanders outside of Hawaii.
The festival is free for all and attracts many music lovers dressed in Hawaiian costumes and fancy dress. Organised by the non-profit Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association, the event is an exciting showcase for Hawaiian talent, and features music concerts from both established Island musicians and upcoming bands and singers.
As well as the music and other cultural and artistic attractions, a number of workshops take place over the course of the weekend, and some give participants the chance to learn a new musical instrument, such as the ukulele or steel guitar.
There is a strong emphasis on Hawaiian influences at the festival, but music and art from Pacific Islands such as Tahiti and Samoa are also featured.
If you like the idea of the festival but are unable to afford the plane ticket to San Francisco, why not organise your own Aloha festival in your back garden or local park?
See if you can track down any local musicians with Hawaiian influences, or if they might be persuaded to learn some Hawaiian music and perform live at the event. Organise Hawaiian food at the event and have everyone turn up in Hawaiian grass skirts, shirts and flower leis. Guests may take a while to warm to the idea, but pretty soon they’ll be loving the island vibes and tropical flavours.
Tags: Aloha festival, hawaiian costume, Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian fancy dress, hawaiian festival, Hawaiian Islanders
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June 28th, 2010
With the final game of the 2010 FIFA world cup rapidly approaching, many people will be making plans to watch it down the pub or in front of the telly with a few mates. Another alternative is to do it in style by throwing your own Hawaiian World Cup final party and inviting your friends and neighbours to watch the game in your back garden.
A television is obviously a must, the larger the better, and you can hook this up in the garden using an extension cable. Consider setting up a small gazebo or marquee to shield the screen from the sun or any unpredictable rain.
Get your guests in the mood by setting up a few tropical decorations for your Hawaiian themed fancy dress party, such as inflatable palm trees and parrots. Throw in a beach ball to the mix, in case your guests fancy a kickabout during halftime.
If you want to serve food before or after the game, treat your friends to a Hawaiian style barbecue in the summer sun. Traditional Hawaiian culinary fare includes a meat or fish main course, a scoop of rice and a salad.
The fancy dress itself is of course integral to your Hawaiian themed world cup party. Send out invitations specifying garish Hawaiian shirts, shorts and grass skirts. As a finishing touch, greet your guests with flower garlands at the door.
No one can predict the final score of the world cup final, but you can ensure it sticks in your guests’ memory by throwing a Hawaiian themed party they’ll never forget.
Tags: Hawaiian fancy dress, Hawaiian fancy dress party, Hawaiian party, Hawaiian themed party, World Cup 2010, World Cup final
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June 16th, 2010
In previous blogs we’ve looked at essential elements for any Hawaiian Luau, such as fancy dress costumes, music, food, Hawaiian party supplies and games. This week we take a look at another fundamental aspect for holding your own Hawaiian themed party in the sun this summer: cocktails.
For all of these tropical Hawaiian recipes you’ll need a blender, measuring glass, ice and a cocktail shaker. Then it’s just a case of breaking out the cocktail glasses and having a good time.
Banana Lover- For this fruity number you’ll need a shot of Amaretto, a shot of Banana Liqueur and two shots of orange juice. Add half a peeled banana and then blend the lot together with ice.
Blue Hawaiian- Take a shot of Blue Caracao, a shot of white rum, half a shot of coconut milk and a small glass of pineapple juice. Mix the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and then slowly pour over ice.
Hawaiian Honeymoon- Perfect for sunny relaxing days, this one goes down smooth. You’ll need a shot of Pernod, pineapple juice and lemon juice, mixed with two shots of Bacardi, two shots of orange juice and a quick splash of Grenadine. Mix all but the Pernod together and pour into a cocktail glass. Then carefully pour the Pernod so it floats on top and drink with a straw.
Isle of Coconut- If you like coconut you’ll fall in love with this tropical Hawaiian recipe. Take two shots of white rum, half a shot each of coconut syrup and lime juice, then add dashes of lemon and orange juice. Blend with ice, pour and enjoy!
Tags: Hawaiian cocktails, Hawaiian luau, Hawaiian party, Hawaiian party supplies, Hawaiian themed party
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May 19th, 2010
Holding a Hawaiian fancy dress party is a perfect way to entertain your friends, and with summer fast approaching now is a perfect time to start planning your very own tropical paradise. This week we take a look at ways in which you can make your Hawaiian themed party a resounding success.
Pick an appropriate party soundtrack – Selecting music with links to Hawaii can enhance the atmosphere of the occasion and help your guests really get into the aloha spirit. Ideas include Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii soundtrack album, and traditional Hawaiian music featuring lots of steel guitar and ukulele.
Serve Hawaiian food – With the good weather finally making an appearance, a traditional Hawaiian barbecue is an ideal way to feed your party guests. The ‘plate lunch’ is at the centre of Hawaiian culinary efforts, and usually combines a mixture of rice and pasta salad with beef, chicken, pork or fish.
Plan some Hawaiian party games – Grab some hula hoops for your Hawaiian fancy dress party and see who can keep going the longest. Limbo dancing is also popularly linked to the Hawaiian islands, though it actually originates from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. But hey, we won’t tell if you don’t.
Decorate with Hawaiian props – Inflatable palm trees, sharks and parrots are great cost effective ways to liven things up at your Hawaiian party. Tikki decorations and cut outs can also add an extra touch of authenticity to the event.
Hand out flower garlands – Presenting guests with flower leis or garlands has long been a Hawaiian tradition and is a sign of friendship and respect. It’s also something your guests can keep as a memento of a great night.
Tags: Blue Hawaii, flower leis, garlands, Hawaiian fancy dress party, Hawaiian food, Hawaiian party, Hawaiian party games
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May 4th, 2010
What’s a Hawaiian party without music? This week we take a look at the tropical island sounds which you can use to add an extra touch of traditional ambience to your Hawaiian themed party.
Hawaiian music is diverse, and has had a larger influence on popular culture around the world than one might expect. Steel guitar, in which the instrument is played on the lap using a metal slide, was invented in Hawaii and is now common in many genres of music such as folk, country and blues. The ukulele is also very popular in Hawaiian culture. If you’re musically minded you might consider picking up one of these to impress guests at your Hawaiian fancy dress party.
Alternatively you could check out some of the following genres and artists for ideas for your party soundtrack.
Folk – Hawaiian folk music usually involves a particular style of chanting, and is designed to accompany traditional hula dancing. Grab yourself a compilation CD and convince your guests to don grass skirts for a hula dance off.
Jawaiian – A hybrid blend of traditional Hawaiian music and Jamaican reggae which became popular on the islands in the nineties. Reggae music and the Rastafarian movement are influential in modern Hawaiian culture.
Rock & Roll – Elvis loved Hawaii, and its influence is clear in many of his songs, such as Hawaiian Wedding Song and blue beyond the reef. Elvis also made several movies set in Hawaii- Girls Girls Girls, Blue Hawaii and Paradise Hawaiian Style- and the soundtrack CD’s to these could be a great addition to your Hawaiian fancy dress party.
Tags: Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian fancy dress party, Hawaiian music, Hawaiian party, Hawaiian themed party
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April 20th, 2010
If you want to add extra depth to your Hawaiian fancy dress party theme, why not specify on the invites that guests should come as famous figures from or related to Hawaii. Although Hawaiian celebrities might not immediately leap to the tip of your tongue, you may be surprised to learn who has roots on the islands. Here we give you a few ideas for your Hawaiian celebrity themed fancy dress party.
Nicole Kidman – One of the world’s highest paid actresses, Nicole Kidman has dual Australian/ American citizenship, and was born in Honolulu. She spent the first four years of her life in Hawaii, making her the perfect Hawaiian celebrity if you want to show off your glamorous side at the fancy dress party.
Barack Obama – The current President of the United States is in fact Hawaiian. Born in Honolulu to American and Kenyan parents, Obama spent much of early life in Hawaii, and returned several times to study.
Duke Kahanamoku – A Five time Olympic medalist swimmer, Duke played a major role in the popularisation of surfing as a mainstream sport. Though he passed away over forty years ago, Duke is still revered in Hawaii today and has a chain of restaurants named after him. On Waikiki beach on the island of Oahu, he is immortalised in the form of a large statue with accompanying surfboard.
Akebono Taro – Taro was a legendary sumo wrestler from Hawaii, and the first foreigner to achieve the highest rank possible in Sumo wrestling, that of Yokozuna.
Tags: famous people from Hawaii, Hawaiian celebrities, Hawaiian fancy dress, Hawaiian fancy dress theme, Hawaiian party, themed Hawaiian party
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April 6th, 2010
As the good weather slowly starts to appear, you don’t want to be wearing bulky fancy dress costumes that overheat. With this in mind, we take a look at Hawaiian fancy dress for ladies.
Grass skirts are the ideal thing for the warmer days, and provide that quintessential island look. They are available in a wide range of colours and materials, and you can even get hold of one made of real grass.
For a sexy summer look, the perfect match for a Hawaiian grass skirt is a coconut bra, which you can either buy or make yourself from an actual coconut. Alternatively, a seashell bra top is both elegant and functional. If you don’t fancy revealing quite so much skin at the party, a range of classy Hawaiian dresses are available in traditional floral patterned designs.
Flower leis or garlands are an absolute essential for any Hawaiian fancy dress party, and add vibrant colours to even the plainest costume. No need to limit yourself to just one.
If you don’t have the long flowing dark hair generally associated with Hawaiian beauties then fear not, as wigs are available to transform you into a long haired island belle. Decorative flower hairclips and tropical hair bands will also have you looking like an island queen.
Can’t go anywhere without your handbag? Not to worry, you can even get Hawaiian themed bags, decorated with flowers and mock grass.
Tags: flower leis, hawaiian costumes, Hawaiian fancy dress, Hawaiian garlands, ladies fancy dress, ladies hawaiian fancy dress
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March 25th, 2010
Summer is not quite here yet, but being British it’s only natural that with the first proper glimpses of sunlight in months our thoughts begin to drift towards the inevitable barbecue. If you’re feeling daring this weekend and are willing to risk a surprise downpour, why not be the first in the neighbourhood to throw some meat on the barbie, and do it in style by making it a Hawaiian themed party.
Obviously the two most crucial elements of any barbecue are the food and the weather, and while you may not be able to do anything to influence the latter, at least you can do your best to ensure the food is the talk of the town. At the centre of Hawaiian culinary efforts is the ‘plate lunch’, consisting of a meat or fish main course, two scoops of rice and a salad. Chicken Katsu and beef teriyaki are both popular choices in Hawaii and go down a treat when served with noodles.
An outdoor Hawaiian themed party is ideal because it provides plenty of space and fresh air for island-inspired party games, such as limbo competitions and hula hoop. Get your guests to enter into the spirit by coming in fancy dress such as grass-skirts, Hawaiian shirts and coconut bikinis. You could even make your own leis out of thread and flower heads to hand out to guests as a traditional Hawaiian symbol of friendship.
While the weather in your back garden might not be quite tropical, you can always create the illusion of a sun-kissed island paradise by decorating the scene with inflatable palm trees, pineapples, and perhaps your very own tiki-hut.
Tags: Hawaiian barbeque, Hawaiian BBQ, Hawaiian party, Hawaiian shirt, Hawaiian themed BBQ, Hawaiian themed party
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March 10th, 2010
It’s the little things that can make or break a party, and with that in mind we present our top tips for holding your own Hawaiian themed fancy dress luau.
1 – Serve cocktails to your guests in coconut shaped cups. If you really want to push the boat out you could even try using real coconuts.
2 – If the climate in your home isn’t suitable for actual palm trees, try decorating with inflatable and cut out palms. Further recreate the tropical ambience of the sun-kissed islands of Hawaii by adding some indigenous wildlife, such as inflatable dolphins, sharks and parrots.
3 – Get your guests dancing to some traditional island music. You can buy CD’s with Hawaiian themed music on, or if you’re musically gifted you could always make your own!
4 – Play some Hawaiian themed party games, such as limbo dancing or whack the piñata.
5 – Hand out homemade flower leis as you greet your guests at the door. You can quite easily make your own with just a needle and thread, and either real flowers or artificial ones made from crate paper or even origami paper. The giving of flower garlands is considered a sign of affection and friendship in Hawaii.
6 – Bring along a few hula hoops and find out which of your guests has the best island rhythm. If indoors, be sure to remove any breakables from the room beforehand!
7 – Serve traditional Hawaiian food, such as rice with barbecued meat or fish. For desert, try banana or coconut cake.
Tags: fancy dress luau, flower leis, Hawaiian fancy dress party, Hawaiian party games, Hawaiian themed party
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