Inspired by the craze of fashionable 1940s society, the Mai Tai cocktail has come to be just as associated with Hawaii as hula girls, lei and ukuleles.

There’s some disagreement as to who first invented the rum-based drink – some say it was ‘Don the Beachcomber’, some say it was ‘Trader Vic – but whoever invented it, the result is unanimously considered to be delicious.

If you want to throw a Hawaiian-themed party with all the chic of 1940s high society, here’s how to impress your guests by mixing your own Mai Tai.

You will need:

a cocktail shaker
a lime juicer
and (ideally) several highball glasses for serving

Mix 1 part white rum, 1 part dark rum, ½ part Amaretto, ½ part apricot brandy, ½ part orange curacao and ½ part lime juice.

Shake these ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, then pour over cubed or crushed ice in a highball glass (a tall glass tumbler).

Top the mixture up with pineapple juice and add a shaving of orange peel for decoration.

If you’re catering for a large party, you can simply up the quantities and prepare the cocktails directly in jugs filled with ice.

If you want to give your cocktails that extra Hawaiian feel – and inject a bit of fun into the mix – why not add some colourful cocktail parasols or cocktail picks decorated with exotic fruits and birds, or even some palm tree-shaped cocktail stirrers.

To find more fun ways of decorating your drinks, browse the Hawaiian party tableware at Hawaiian Party Supplies

Think of Hawaii and you’re sure to think of exotic beaches, beautiful ladies in grass skirts – and hula dancing.

Hula dancing may look like basic swaying and arm waving to the untrained eye, but in fact it derives from ancient rituals which convey complex meanings and even seek to unify the dancer with nature.

There are several different types of hula step, including Kaholo, Ka’o and Ami, which can be combined with either ‘hula’ or ‘coconut tree’ hand motions.

Here’s how to do a basic Kaholo step with hula arms – but first, put on some suitable Hawaiian music.

For the feet: start by standing with your feet together, then take two small steps to the right. Then, take two small steps to the left. Keep repeating these steps for as long as the hula music plays!

For the arms: To get the correct hula arm position, place your arms straight out to your sides at shoulder height with your palms facing down. Bend your left arm in so that it’s just in front of your chest, but not touching it.

Make sure your finger tips on both hands are pointing to the right and carry out a wave-like motion with both arms and hands, as you will no doubt have seen in countless Hawaii-based films. Then, reverse your arms so your right arm is bent and your finger tips are pointing to the left, and repeat the wave movement.

Keep repeating the arm motions in time with the Kaholo steps.

Once you’ve got the moves, all you need is the outfit. You can find all the hula accessories you need, from garlands, grass skirts and shell bras to flip-flops and hair ornaments at

It’s important to make sure that your venue looks the part when throwing a Hawaiian-themed party, otherwise you and your guests will look a bit out of place in your grass skirts!

Here are some cheap and easy ways of creating that authentic Hawaiian feel, whether you’re partying in your home, your garden or a hired venue:

Scene setters: ‘Magnolia’ living room walls don’t exactly ooze Hawaiian exoticism, so why not cover them up with scene setters made from traditional-looking thatch or bamboo. Or, if you fancy something a bit more colourful, opt for scene setters painted with beach landscapes and palm trees. Read the rest of this entry »