A Summertime Luau-Themed Birthday Pool Party

Looking back at these photos from July 2014, I remember the heat of that particular summer day. It was the kind of Bay Area sun that made a pool party feel like the only sensible option. We went with a luau theme, and the kids fully committed to it.

A whole group of girls showed up in their swimsuits, layered with plastic leis and grass skirts. They posed for what felt like endless group photos by the edge of the pool, some gamely holding whole pineapples as props. The sun was high and bright, making the concrete stark white against the blue water.

The centerpiece of any kid's party is the cake. This one was incredibly vibrant—a tiered creation of teal and magenta frosting, covered in sugar flowers. All the kids, still wearing their party leis, crowded around the table to watch the first slice being cut. It was that classic moment of birthday anticipation, played out in the summer heat.