Moana Party Ideas for Your Little Explorer!

Aloha, fellow party planners and creative moms! If your little one dreams of exploring the ocean, meeting demigods, and embarking on incredible adventures, then a Moana-themed party is the perfect way to bring their Disney dreams to life. With the ocean as our guide, let’s dive into some fantastic Moana party ideas to make your child’s special day a magical voyage to remember!

What to Do at a Moana Party: Moana Party Activities for Little Explorers

I am so excited to share all the magical details from the Moana-themed birthday bash we recently threw for our little adventurer!

Invitations: We kicked off the party planning with some adorable Moana-inspired invitations featuring the oceanic color palette and, of course, a sprinkle of tropical vibes. It set the tone perfectly!

Decor: Our backyard was transformed into a tropical paradise! We hung bright leis and seashells and adorned the tables with Moana-themed tablecloths and centerpieces. Plus, you can’t have a Moana party without a big, beautiful banner featuring our favorite fearless princess!

Costumes: Oh, the kids had a blast dressing up as their favorite characters from the movie! Grass skirts, flower crowns, and seashell necklaces galore were a sea of mini-Moanas and Mauis!

Activities: We had a whole bunch of ocean-inspired games and activities planned! From a “Find the Heart of TeFiti” scavenger hunt to a “Pass the Coconut” game, the kids were giggling and having a blast the whole time.

Craft Station: We set up a crafting station with supplies for making their very own DIY Moana necklaces and bracelets. It was such a hit, and the kids got to take home a little piece of the party!

Food: For snacks, we went all out with a tropical fruit platter, coconut shrimp, and, of course, pineapple pizza! And let’s not forget the showstopper—a Moana-themed cake featuring our favorite characters and the heart of TeFiti right on top. It was almost too beautiful to eat—almost!

Entertainment: We hired a local hula dance troupe to teach the kids some traditional Polynesian dances. It was such a fun and educational experience for them, and they absolutely loved it!

Party Favors: As a little token of appreciation, each guest received a mini Moana tote bag filled with goodies like seashell chocolates, stickers, and a tiny Moana figurine.

Photo Booth: We set up a photo booth area with props like flower crowns, leis, and even a blow-up palm tree. The kids had a blast striking their best Moana poses!

Overall, it was a day filled with laughter, sunshine, and a whole lot of “You’re Welcome”! Seeing our little one’s face light up with joy made all the planning and preparation totally worth it. I hope this inspires you to throw a Moana Party Ideas bash of your own it’s a party they’ll never forget!

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Our favorite Moana Party Ideas

Storytime with Grandma Tala: Begin your party with a storytelling session featuring Moana’s grandma, Tala. Share Moana’s epic journey and adventures with the kids.

DIY Leis: Set up a lei-making station with colorful flowers and string. Kids can create their own leis to wear during the party and take them home as party favors.

Voyage to TeFiti: Organize a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt with clues that lead the kids on a voyage to find the Heart of TeFiti (a special treasure or artifact).

Maui’s Hook Toss: Create a game where kids can toss “fish” (small toys or bean bags) through the center of Maui’s magical hook. Offer prizes for successful throws.

Ocean Exploration: Set up a sensory play area with blue-tinted rice or sand. Provide seashells, toy boats, and ocean-themed toys for the kids to explore and play with.

Hula Dancing: Arrange for a hula dance lesson or performance. Kids can learn some basic hula moves and dance to Moana’s songs.

Moana Movie Screening: Create a cozy movie-watching area and screen the movie “Moana” for the kids to enjoy. Popcorn and comfy pillows are a must!

Character Meet and Greet: If possible, consider hiring a Moana and Maui character performer for a meet and greet. They can take photos with the kids and even lead some activities.

Moana Karaoke: Set up a karaoke machine and let the kids sing along to their favorite Moana songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome.”

Tiki Mask Painting: Provide plain masks or paper plates and let the kids paint their own tiki masks. They can get creative and use colorful paints to design their masks.

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Moana Party Decorations: Bringing the Island to Your Home

Island Vibes: Set the stage with a tropical island paradise vibe. Decorate with palm leaves, leis, and colorful tropical flowers. You can even add some tiki torches (LED for safety) to create an exotic ambiance.

Moana’s Canoe: Create a cardboard cutout or inflatable canoe as a focal point. Moana’s canoe, adorned with flowers, can serve as a backdrop for photos and storytelling.

Ocean Waves: Hang blue streamers or fabric from the ceiling to mimic the ocean waves. You can add fish cutouts or inflatable fish to complete the underwater scene.

Wayfinder Symbols: Incorporate Moana’s Wayfinder symbols into your decor. You can make them out of cardboard or print them as banners and place them around the party area.

Maui’s Hook: Display a replica of Maui’s magical fishhook as a centerpiece. You can even use it to hold balloons or as a decoration on the dessert table.

Moana and Friends Cutouts: Place cardboard cutouts of Moana, Maui, Pua, and Heihei around the party space. These beloved characters will transport your guests to Motunui.

Lanterns and Fairy Lights: Hang paper lanterns and string lights to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, just like the lantern scene in the movie.

Moana Party Food: A Feast Fit for Adventurers

Heart of TeFiti Cookies: Create heart-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them to resemble the Heart of TeFiti. Use green icing for the heart and blue for the surrounding water.

Pineapple Delights: Serve pineapple chunks, pineapple skewers, or pineapple boat fruit salads for a tropical touch. Kids will love the sweet and juicy goodness.

Coconut Cups: Serve drinks in coconut cups or provide coconut water for a refreshing and hydrating beverage option.

Pua’s Pineapple Pizza: Serve pineapple and ham pizza, also known as “Hawaiian pizza.” Cut it into bite-sized pieces for easy snacking. You can even use a cookie cutter to shape the pizza slices like tropical islands.

Tropical Fruit Skewers: Create colorful fruit skewers with a variety of tropical fruits, such as pineapple chunks, mango slices, kiwi, and strawberries. Kids will enjoy the vibrant, healthy treat.

Mini Huli Huli Chicken Sliders: Offer mini chicken sliders with Huli Huli sauce, a sweet and tangy Hawaiian barbecue sauce. You can also include some teriyaki sauce for an extra flavor option.

Palm Tree Fruit Platter: Arrange slices of kiwi on toothpicks to create palm tree-shaped fruit skewers. Place them in a pineapple or coconut for a tropical display.

Seafood Spread: If your little explorer enjoys seafood, consider serving shrimp cocktails or crab cakes. Label them “Under the Sea Delights” for a fun touch.

Tropical Smoothies: Blend up tropical fruit smoothies using ingredients like mango, pineapple, coconut milk, and a touch of honey. Provide colorful paper straws for sipping.

Island Salad: Create a colorful island salad with a mix of tropical fruits, shredded coconut, and a drizzle of lime or passion fruit dressing.

Taro Chips: Offer taro chips as a crunchy snack option. These root vegetable chips are reminiscent of the exotic flavors of the Pacific Islands.

Ocean Blue Jello Cups: Make blue raspberry-flavored Jello cups and top them with whipped cream and a tiny umbrella. They’ll look like ocean waves ready for sailing.

Moana’s Ocean Water Punch: Create a kid-friendly “ocean water” punch by mixing blue raspberry lemonade with lemon-lime soda. Add gummy fish or Swedish fish candies for a playful touch.

Heihei’s Veggie Platter: Arrange a veggie platter to resemble Heihei, Moana’s feathered friend. Use bell peppers for the beak and cucumbers for the body.

Tropical Fruit Punch: Offer a colorful tropical fruit punch made with fruit juices and sparkling water. It’s a non-alcoholic treat that both kids and adults can enjoy.

Kakamora Cake Pops: Create cake pops that look like the Kakamora, the coconut pirates from the movie. Decorate them with candy faces and attach small pieces of licorice for arms and legs.

Mini Taro Buns: Serve mini taro buns or rolls as a side dish. Taro is a staple in Polynesian cuisine and adds an authentic touch to your menu.

Moana Party Ideas: Final Note

By incorporating these Moana-themed decorations, food ideas, and activities, you’ll create a party experience that captures the spirit of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery found in the movie. Your little explorers will set sail on an unforgettable voyage to Motunui!

About Author

Jane Sheriff is the founder, creative director, party planner and mom of three. She started Darling Celebrations back in 2012 to share easy and beautiful ideas for celebrating the special events in life.