Tiki-inspired party favors bring smiles for "shore"

Children's Tiki Party

The possibilities for a tropical themed party are almost endless!  Shell we get right to it? (I promise, that's the last pun for this post).  When I think of a tropical party, I'm most inspired by the retro 1960s Hawaiian vibe, so I've tried to gather charming vintage finds here.  Hawaii went through a massive period of growth in the 1960s, when the rest of America became obsessed with its most alluring and beautiful new state.  It certainly didn't hurt when Elvis filmed three (!) movies there during that decade.  Here are a few ideas for Tiki themed party favors for your tropical party:

24 Palm Tree Favor Boxes $15.00

How adorable are these little palm tree candy boxes from Yacanna shop on Etsy.com? Scattering these across the table as part of the place settings would be such a charming way to make a beachy atmosphere.

A set of these festive Polynesian inspired cookies $42.00

If you wanted to create a craft for the little ones, you could always purchase a surfboard shaped cookie cutter and make plain sugar cookies for them to decorate at the party.  For those party planners looking for less mess, these adorable tropical-themed cookies from A Little Bit of Paris shop on Etsy.com stand out with their whimsical colors and attention to detail. 

This set is the perfect inspiration for a Tiki styled table setting! $45.00 for this vintage set.

I'm a big fan of purchasing "party details" that can be reused, like a set of wooden Tiki cups! This set is from Foxy Revival Shop on Etsy.  There are plenty of imitations out there if you don't want to splurge on a vintage set. 

Tropical Paper Leaves $7.00 per pack of twelve

For me, one of the best aspects of this kind of party is the vibrant color that you can infuse into decorations and party favors.  A scattering of these paper palm leaves across the table would add a really cheerful atmosphere for your little ones. 

Planet friendly palm plates up to $18.99 for a pack of 25

Children's parties are often overrun with plastic toys, that while fun do not exactly do any favors for our beautiful Earth.  These palm tree plates are a nice eco-friendly touch, especially when paired with reusable bamboo straws.   This is a nice way to bring a little environmental consciousness into the day's festivities while remaining completely on theme!

If you can believe it, this beautiful orchid lei was available via Amazon from $19.50.

Of course, you have to send the little ones home with their own little slice of Polynesian beauty.  Why purchase those plastic leis that will just sit in a landfill once their novelty has worn off? Fresh orchid leis are available year round from florists.  Ideally, you'll be able to find someone local to purchase from, to avoid the carbon and money spent on shipping from a warm location.