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.