Throw a Low-Cost Hawaiian BBQ and Transform Your Big Summer Celebrations!
Nothing welcomes the summer in quite like firing up the grill, putting on some tunes and throwing a boozy BBQ bash! Yet, as we’ve all experienced before, if you get them wrong, barbeques can be quite stale affairs…
‘Oh no, Zoe and Alex have invited us to another bland, over-burnt, borefest – yawn!’
Don’t be like Zoe and Alex. Crank up the celebrations by giving your BBQ a flavour-packed tropical twist! Yes, say goodbye to BBQ blues and “Aloha!” to a Hawaiian-style Polynesian Party! We’re talking vibrant colours, delicious drinks, big bites and chilled vibes, all for minimal effort and minimal expense.
Throw a BBQ that people will be talking about for years to come!
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The Food
The cornerstone of any cookout!
Hawaiian cuisine is big on tropical flavours with a burst of Asian fusion thrown in for good measure, and it’s guaranteed to transport you and your guests to the beaches of the island paradise with every bite.
Our Top Hawaiian Recipe Ideas
- Kalua Pork
- Chicken Long Rice
- Squid Luau
- Lomi Lomi Salmon
For the Meaties
Kalua Pork is a Hawaiian staple and the perfect topper to a sizzling burger.
Throw some teriyaki spiced chicken wings into the mix along with pineapple rings, salsa, mint yoghurt and a side of pasta and you’re onto a winner.
You could even make some Hawaiian-inspired bacon, pineapple and chicken skewers which can be cooked to perfection on the grill.
For the Veggies
A rainbow salad will bring some colour and vibrancy to your Polynesian spread, whilst baked sweet potatoes will bring the substance.
You can also add in some Hawaiian coleslaw and some spicy pineapple fritters to broaden your options further.
Alternatively…
If the food isn’t the be-all and end-all or your BBQ (we all have our own views on what makes a good BBQ get-together), order in some Hawaiian Pizzas so you spend less time glued to the grill and more time relaxing, chatting and enjoying the party!
The Drinks
People come for the food, but they stay for the drinks!
Big, bold, and fruity – Hawaiian cocktails reign supreme!
The Mai Tai, Blue Hawaii, Mango Martinis are all top choices which will go down a tropical storm with your guests.
Below we’ve given you our favourite recipe ideas, but you can tailor them to suit your own tastes.
After all, the fun of cocktail making is experimenting!
The Mai Tai
- 45ml White Rum
- 15ml Dark Rum
- 25ml Cointreau
- 50ml Orange Juice (Or Pineapple Juice/Or Both)
- 25ml Fresh Lime
- Garnish: Lime & Mint (Or Maraschino Cherries/Pineapple)
Party On Top Tip: An orange flavoured Mai Tai is a good way to go, particularly if you serve a lot of pineapple in the food!
Blue Hawaii
- 25ml Light Rum
- 25ml Blue Curaçao
- 50ml Pineapple Juice
- 25ml Cream of Coconut (Optional)
- Garnish: Pineapple Slice or Maraschino Cherry (+ A Cocktail Umbrella, Of Course!)
Mango Martini
- 50ml Vodka
- 20ml Triple Sec
- 25ml Mango Puree
- 25ml Grapefruit Juice
- Garnish: Mango Wedge
The Décor & Dress Code
Tropic like it’s hot!
Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts are the minimum requirements for a Polynesian-themed party, but why not elevate it to even greater heights by throwing in a few palm trees, tiki torches, flower leis and much more!
The Music
Do you wanna go, straight to Hawaii (Hawaaiiii)?
If anyone can play the Ukulele (or learn it pretty quickly), then you’re all sorted!
Otherwise, you’re going to want to check out our ‘Groupia Home Hawaiian BBQ Playlist‘ featuring a massive mix from Hawaiian Folk and Reggae to the Beach Boys, Jack Johnson and more.
The first couple of hours set the early evening tone before it kicks into gear when the Mai Tais have set in and you’re just about ready to party.
Games & Extras
Polynesian Party Starters!
Shot Limbo
Crank up the chaos by lowering the bar as you go head-to-head in the battle of the bendy.
Shot Limbo is your classic game of limbo but, you guessed it, with shots!
Whether you give someone a shot for each successful limbo or each fall to the floor is up to you…
Looking for Further Inspiration?
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