Summer parties often celebrate different occasions: graduations, Fourth of July or Father's Day. But you don't always need a reason to throw a party! A luau is a fun way to celebrate the summer weather in the company of family and friends. It's relatively easy to throw a luau -- simply heat up the coals, set up the decorations and prepare to entertain -- but you can make your luau legendary with a little help from Consumer Guide. Here are some ideas and supplies that will help you bring a memorable tropical party right to your backyard.

Make a summer party a luau with tropical decor. Tabletop Tiki Hut Make a summer party a luau with tropical decor.
Tabletop Tiki Hut

Decorations

Pouring sand all over your yard or apartment to set a tropical mood is obviously a bad idea; there are other ways to get the point across. Greet guests with pink flamingos in the lawn; they'll either smile or roll their eyes in amusement. Inside, drape fish nets over furniture and hang it above doorways. Apply some fake sea life decorations -- sea horses, lobsters, crabs, starfish, etc. -- and dress tables up with Hibiscus Raffia Table Skirts. On the main food or appetizer table, you can use a Luau Pig Honeycomb Centerpiece or tropical flowers. Seashells can also be scattered on tables to add a touch of the tropics.

If you have the space and you want to go all out, set up a Tiki hut; this could be the perfect place to set up your beverages and desserts. Use coconut cups and straws to provide even more island flavor. Solar Powered Wicker Tiki Torches or Natural Tiki Torches can provide lighting once evening falls.


Entertainment

Start the party ahead of time with Fun Invites Bottle Invitations. Send off these bottled invitations so your friends know when to head over to your little island. Before they arrive, put on some summer music: the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds is a great album for such an occasion, or you can consider a compilation CD such as The Rock 'N' Roll Beach Party.

Stock up on leis and grass skirts for your friends to wear, or suggest that they come dressed for the theme. Set up a few buckets with Sea Creature Water Guns and water balloons for random fun -- outside the house, of course. Later on, bust out the Limbo Kit and pass out some coconut ukuleles for a little improvised music.


Grills

Unless you plan on roasting a pig on a spit, you'll want to make sure you have a grill and equipment for a luau barbecue. If you have the space and plan on entertaining a lot, consider purchasing a full-size grill, such as the Weber Spirit E-310; its three burners provide plenty of grilling space and its Flavorizer bars add smoky grilled taste to whatever you cook.

If you don't have the room for a large grill, consider the OUTDOORCHEF City Grill 420; it's just the right size for apartment dwellers. The City Grill has a flip funnel to divert drippings away from burners, and you need only move the funnel to redirect the heat it produces. Use this grill to cook for a small luau at your house or apartment, or simply pack it up and take it to a real beach party.

Give a drink a tropical touch with a coconut cup and flowered straw.Give a drink a tropical touch with a coconut cup and flowered straw.

Food

A luau often includes tropical-themed food and drinks. You can make kabobs using Grilled Tropical Shrimp with a citrus twist of pineapple juice or orange juice. If you're partial to the skewer, Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs offer a variety of flavors, including succulent shrimp, sweet green and red peppers, and chunks of pineapple and mango. What's more, these kabob recipes are simple enough that substitutions can be made; you can use chicken instead of shrimp, for example, or you can even leave out the meat altogether. Another easy, yet flavorful culinary option is Hawaiian-Style Burgers -- tasty ground beef with Worchester sauce and pineapples.

Top off your delicious dinner with some sweet, tangy desserts. A mango smoothie, for example, will cool off guests and provide a fun tropical touch. Get a little creative and top your guests' drinks with little paper umbrellas or straws with silk flowers. Tropical Luau Cupcakes combine yellow cake, banana pudding, kiwi, coconut and pineapple juice for a pint-size treat that your guests will be powerless to resist. And don't forget the coconut cream pie!