Party planners come in-it's for a 50th b-day party

ladymantha

I'm throwing my mom a surprise 50th birthday party next month.  She wanted to go on a cruise to the caribbean for her 50th, but she can't get the time off work so I'm going with a luau/Hawaiian cookout theme.  Here is what I have planned so far, if you have any great ideas please let me know:  I'm decorating with tropical stuff, getting leis, food will be burgers and grilled chicken (I need some app and side dish ideas that would go with the theme), alcoholic drinks will be pina coladas (her fav) and Corona w/lime, I'm putting tables and tiki torches up out back with the decorations, and I have a tropical themed cake I'm having made.  Any other cute ideas?

MrsStubbs

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/sand-dollar-vase-filler/?pkey=cvase-fillers

https://www.potterybarn.com/shop/accessories-decor/vases/vase-fillers/

Hurricane vases with sand/shells/candles

Fruit and meat/veg shishkabobs for apps.

DandelionMom

Aps: fruit kabobs, tortilla chips with that mango salsa, and shrimp

Side dishes: sweet potato fries, coleslaw with pineapple (I don't have a recipe for this but had it once and it was really good)

mgfit1

I made a tiki hut to cover the food table...I used a large cardboard box to make the roof and I covered it with cheap straw beach matts with a glue gun.  I also used extra straw mats on the food table instead of a table cloth and used grass table skirts on the food table. 

 For the appetizers - maui onion dip/chips, mango salsa and tortilla chips, asian pot stickers, mini tropical fruit kabobs/dip (mango, papaya, etc...), sweedish fish candies, goldfish crackers.

Entree: polynesian pork, huli huli chicken, fried rice, asian cole slow, tossed salad with almond slivers, carrots, red peppers, tomato and ginger sesame dressing.