TROPICAL TIPS Suggest kids come in their own flowered t-shirts, or pick some up at your local discount store. Serve drinks in brightly colored cups, and have lots of fruits out for snacking.

ICE BREAKER As soon as the kids begin to arrive, give each one of them a cutout of a surfer with double-stick tape attached to the back. Then, one at a time, cover their eyes with a blindfold, twirl them around, and point them towards the wall with a huge wave drawn on paper. Let them try to pin the surfer on the wave!

MAKIN' LEIS Designate a luau-lei table where kids can design and create their own leis. Cut 30-inch lengths of thick yarn for each guest, and let them string inexpensive silk flowers, flower-shaped cut-outs and beads to make the necklaces.