What to buy for a Hawaiian party

Use this Hawaiian party shopping list to prepare the food, drinks, serving setup, barbecue area, and tropical atmosphere without last-minute trips to the store. Confirm your guest count before buying perishables, then check which reusable glasses, plates, cutlery, and serving dishes you already have. Plan extra cooling space for drinks and keep barbecue tools, heat-resistant gloves, and extension cords together before setup day. Decorations such as flower garlands, leis, string lights, and inflatable palm trees are easy to overlook when the menu takes priority.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
High tablesqty 4
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 60
Reusable wine glassesqty 45
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 30
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving trays with lidsqty 6
Serving utensilsqty 12

Equipment

Barbecueqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Wireless microphone
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4

Kitchen

Barbecue tongsqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Ice spoonsqty 2
Bottle openersqty 4
Heat-resistant glovesqty 2

Decorations

Flower garlandsqty 8
Hawaiian leisqty 50
Tableclothsqty 6
String lightsqty 6
Inflatable palm treesqty 2
Photo backdrop
Photo props
Welcome sign

Sports equipment

Limbo sticksqty 2
Hula hoopingqty 6
Plastic conesqty 10

Cleaning

Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburger buns - 50 pieces
- Beef burgers - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 10 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 50 pieces
- Vegetable skewers - 20 pieces
- Pineapple - 6 pieces
- Mangoes - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12
- Red onions - 8 pieces
- Zucchini - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Corn cobs - 40 pieces
- Baby potatoes - 5 kilograms
- Rice - 3 kilograms
- Coconut milk - 6 cans
- Feta cheese - 1 kilogram
- Grated cheese - 1,5 kilograms
- Hamburger sauce - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Soy sauce - 2 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salsa - 5 jars
- Paprika chips - 5 bags
- Plain chips - 5 bags
- Water - 60 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Fruit juice - 10 liters
- Coconut water - 8 liters
- Limes - 30 pieces
- Mint - 10 bunches
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Beer - 120 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Coconut macaroons - 60 pieces
- Mango ice cream - 5 liters
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Charcoal - 3 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Buy drinks based on the final guest count and chill them in batches: allow roughly two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one per hour after that. Keep coolers available so the buffet refrigerator is not overloaded.
Shop for fruit, salad ingredients, sandwich toppings, marinades, and sauces no more than one or two days before the party. Wash and prep fruit and vegetables on the day itself so they stay fresh.
Count reusable drinking glasses, wine glasses, plates, cutlery, coffee cups, and serving dishes before shopping. For a seated meal, have at least one complete place setting per guest plus 10% extra for breakage or delayed washing.
Set aside a dedicated barbecue kit: barbecue tongs, cutting boards, chef’s knives, ice scoops, bottle openers, and heat-resistant gloves. Place the barbecue away from tents and cables, with the gloves and tongs within reach before lighting it.
Test speakers, the wireless microphone, string lights, extension cords, and power strips at least one day ahead. Outdoor power problems are harder to fix once guests arrive, especially when the buffet, bar, and photo area are already set up.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a Hawaiian party?: For a meal, plan about 400–500 g of food per adult, including salads, fruit, sandwiches, and barbecue items. Add 10% extra if guests will be eating over several hours or if children make up a large part of the group.
How many drinks should I buy for a Hawaiian party?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour and about one drink per person for each additional hour. Buy extra water and keep at least one full cooler available for non-alcoholic drinks.
When should I buy food for a Hawaiian party?: Buy shelf-stable items, drinks, decorations, and disposable replacements up to a week ahead. Buy fruit, vegetables, salads, and barbecue ingredients one or two days before the party, then chill drinks and prepare fresh produce on the day.
How many plates and glasses do I need per guest?: Start with one plate, one drinking glass, and one set of cutlery per guest, then add 10% extra. If the party lasts more than three hours or food is served in several rounds, plan closer to two glasses per guest.

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