This Halloween, skip the spooky and sail straight into sunshine with a theme that’s shore to bring smiles: Your own Luau Lounge!
Why not channel your inner “Timmy Buffet” (yes, that’s Jimmy’s thrifty cousin) and turn Halloween into a tropical staycation? With items found at Goodwill, you can create a costume and display that’s part island paradise, part upcycled art project, and 100% fun.
Here’s How:
Step 1. Shop at Goodwill for your Halloween costume & décor desires
Every tiki treasure starts with a good hunt! Begin by stopping by your favorite Goodwill nonprofit retail store, where you’ll stroll the aisles and keep an open mind — the mix of possibilities is half the fun.
During my recent visit to Goodwill, I knew I wanted to find items for my Halloween costume. While there, I spied some grass skirts hanging around which set sail and my direction for this year’s Halloween voyage. To make the tropical idea come to life, look for:
- Grass skirts (the more the merrier!)
- Hawaiian shirts or shifts in bright tropical prints
- Straw hats ready for transformation
- Wooden figurines or statues (like a seahorse)
- Plastic margarita glasses or tiki cups
- Stuffed animals (hello, shark friend!)
- Colorful leis, beads, and garlands
Step 2. Mix and match until magic happens
Lay out your finds on the floor or a table. Play with textures, layers, and colors. You’re building an island story — so let your imagination run wild like a beach breeze! I found two shirts that could work and when I pulled all the pieces together, one rode the wave to the top.
Step 3. Create your margarita recipe (with spray paint)
Give those plastic glasses a tropical twist with a splash of color. Metallic gold, lime green, or coral pink make everything feel festive. As always, use what you have handy. Yellow and green were what I had and fit the colorful, vibrant vibe. Cool, man!
Step 4. Bling up your straw hat
Turn your thrifted hat into a tiki masterpiece: add a lei around the brim and a margarita glass on top. Secure with hot glue and wire to keep everything in place. When I put the margarita-adorned hat on my head, the glass bounced around like it was dancing! I knew the wire would keep it secure as I strutted!
Step 5. Pull your look together with tropic style
Pair your Goodwill-found Hawaiian shirt with a grass skirt, throw on a wooden bead necklace (I scored one at our October 17 art supply swap event, co-hosted with Finding Your Good), and slip into sandals or flip-flops. Instant island energy!
Step 6. Accessorize like an island icon
Add personality with a playful prop. Try hot-gluing a margarita glass into a stuffed shark’s mouth for a hilarious conversation starter — because every tiki bar needs a little bite! (Ouch, that pun was pretty painful!)
Step 7: Setting the Scene: Welcome to Tim’s Tiki Tavern!
No luau lounge is complete without atmosphere. Create a funky, festive vignette using your thrifted finds. Hang up a grass skirt backdrop for instant island vibes and add sunshine cut-outs or tropical paper garlands. Name your establishment and create a sign with paint pens, accessorizing with flowers borrowed from a lei and hot-glued, too. Position your wooden seahorse statue in a prominent spot after dressing its table in its own grass skirt. And of course, grab your stuffed shark, now proudly ready to toast the night away.
Consider adding a few strings of lights, island tunes, and good friends — and your tiki dream is complete!
So go for it — set sail to your nearest Goodwill and thrift your way to a tropical celebration for Halloween (or any time of year) that’s sustainable, creative, and overflowing with good vibes. When you shop for items at Goodwill, you’re not just finding your costume — you’re Finding Your Good—it’s good for your wallet, good for our community and good for our planet!
Please share photos of your costumes created with Goodwill-found items. We love to see and be inspired! Nothing scary here this Halloween!
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Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
