Hawaiian Luau

by Jill Dvornik

Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: An afternoon
Type of activity: Arts and Crafts

A luau is a "Ohana" (family) occasion where everyone comes together to celebrate. Any event is a good reason to have a luau. The day is filled with love, smiles, music, dancing, and lots of fresh flowers and delicious foods.

Begin your luau by making leis for everyone to wear.

Materials needed:
· String
· Colored straws cut into 2-inch pieces, or tube-shaped pasta
· Construction paper
· Glue
· Safety scissors
· Hole puncher (or scissors)
· Glitter, markers, and other decorative materials

What to do:

Step One: To begin, draw and cut out a stencil of a flower (or several different flowers) for your lei.

Step Two: Trace the flowers on the construction paper, then cut them out. Make sure the flowers are big enough so you can add your own decorations.

Step Three: Punch (or cut) a hole in the middle of each flower for your child.

Step Four: Add glitter, designs, or other decorations to the flowers.

Step Five: Cut a piece of string as long as you'd like your lei to be.

Step Six: Thread the string through the hole in the flower, then thread it through a straw (or pasta tube), then another flower, and so on.

Step Seven: Once your child has finished, tie the two ends of the string together. She can wear it around her neck while she makes more leis for all your luau guests.

Now it's time to get the party started!

Serve up some Hawaiian Punch, tropical fruit platters, fresh pineapple, sweet potatoes, banana bread, coconut pudding, or poi (which can be found in the ethnic section of some supermarkets).

Put on some Hawaiian music and wiggle your hips! Or go outside and see how well you hula-hoop.

Aloha!