Hawaiian Theme Dinner & Luau Food Ideas for Kids
Bring a tropical feeling to family dinner with a colorful Hawaiian theme dinner. Serve pineapple-inspired dishes, tropical fruit, a fun drink and an easy dessert while kids help decorate the table for a family luau night.
This theme works for a family dinner, summer party, birthday or cooking activity. Add paper leis, tropical colors, flowers and a pineapple centerpiece to make an ordinary meal feel like a special luau.
Choose one tropical main dish + rice or another simple side + fresh fruit + a Hawaiian-inspired drink. Add fruit dip or a tropical dessert if you want to make the dinner extra special.
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Hawaiian Luau Table & Centerpiece Ideas
A few colorful decorations are enough to turn dinner into a family luau.
Hawaiian Sweet & Sour Ham
Ham, pineapple and colorful vegetables come together in a sweet and tangy sauce for an easy Hawaiian-inspired family dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked ham, cut into strips
- 1 cup canned pineapple tidbits, juice reserved
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Dash of salt
- 3 teaspoons vinegar
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 yellow, orange or red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1/4 cup chopped carrots
- Cooked rice, for serving
Directions
- Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice for the sauce.
- Add the ham, bell pepper and carrots to a skillet and cook until heated and lightly browned.
- Add the drained pineapple.
- In a bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, mustard and water.
- Pour the sauce into the skillet.
- Cook and stir until the sauce thickens.
- Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Season with a small amount of salt if needed.
- Serve over cooked rice.
Hawaiian Haystacks for Dinner
Hawaiian Haystacks are another easy family dinner choice. Start with rice and a creamy sauce, then let everyone add their own favorite toppings.
Tropical Fruit Salad
Fresh tropical fruit makes an easy colorful side dish for a Hawaiian theme dinner.
Ingredients
- Mango, cut into chunks
- Pineapple, cut into chunks
- Banana, sliced
- Orange, cut into pieces
Directions
- Prepare the fruit and cut it into bite-size pieces.
- Gently combine the fruit in a serving bowl.
- If desired, serve the fruit in a hollowed-out pineapple for a fun luau presentation.
Creamy Tropical Pineapple Drink
This easy pineapple drink is a simple non-alcoholic beverage for a Hawaiian theme dinner or family luau.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
Directions
- Add the milk, pineapple juice, vanilla and sugar to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and combined.
- Pour into serving glasses and serve chilled.
Hawaiian Sunset Fruit Dip
Pineapple, coconut and vanilla pudding make a creamy tropical dip for fresh fruit.
Ingredients
- 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 1/4 cups cold milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 oz. crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut
Directions
- Add the pudding mix and cold milk to a bowl and stir until combined.
- Stir in the sour cream.
- Fold in the crushed pineapple and coconut.
- Cover and chill for several hours.
- Serve cold with fresh fruit for dipping.
Palm Tree Fruit Platter
Turn fresh fruit into a simple tropical scene by arranging it to look like a palm tree.
Butter Mochi Hawaiian Dessert
Butter mochi is a chewy Hawaiian-style dessert made with sweet rice flour. Watch the video below for another dessert idea to add to your family luau.
More Tropical & Theme Dinner Ideas
Keep the fun going with more colorful family dinner themes and creative food ideas.
Hawaiian Theme Dinner & Luau Questions
Try Hawaiian sweet and sour ham with rice, Hawaiian haystacks, tropical fruit salad, a pineapple drink, fruit dip and a tropical dessert. You only need a few of these dishes to create a fun family luau menu.
Kids can arrange fruit, measure cold ingredients, mix fruit dip, help set the table and make paper leis or tropical decorations. Adults should handle hot skillets, blenders and cutting firm fruit as needed.
A whole pineapple makes an easy centerpiece. Add tropical flowers, colorful napkins, fruit or homemade paper leis around it to decorate the table.
A creamy pineapple drink made with milk, pineapple juice, vanilla and a little sugar is an easy kid-friendly option for a family luau.
Make your own Theme Dinner Party page.
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Reader's Submitted Recipes and Ideas
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