The Best Moana Birthday Party Ideas For Kids

A fan favorite in the Moana film is actually one of the villains, a giant crab named Tamatoa, who lives deep at the bottom of the ocean and adores all things shiny. This collector of trinkets sings about the joys of shiny objects as Moana distracts him so Maui can retrieve his hook. Let kids go on a scavenger hunt for Tamatoa’s shiny things by hiding various gems and coins, and similar objects around a specified area.

The main focus of Moana is returning the heart of Te Fiti, which she keeps in a shell on her necklace. This Pin the Necklace game gives kids the opportunity to put the shell back on Moana’s necklace while blindfolded. (Just like the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey game.) The game comes with the Moana poster, two blindfolds, and 24 reusable necklace pendants (using glue dots). For added fun, have some prizes for the winners.

If you want to add a craft station to your party, check out this idea from Mom Made Moments. Guests can make their very own shell necklaces, just like Moana. Portion out all of the supplies ahead of time into individual buckets or trays. Then, each guest can sit and take their time to assemble their necklace however they wish. After they make their necklaces, have them show off their creations and snap a few pics.

This large, colorful piñata features Moana holding her pig pal Pua. A piñata is always lots of fun at a kid’s party, and it’s super exciting when all of the goodies finally spill out onto the ground. Watch kids scamper as they try to grab as many surprises as they can. You can choose to hit the piñata or opt for a pull-string version for a bit of a calmer approach. Give everyone a bag to hold their trinkets, so they can bring them home.

A bean bag toss game is a fun option for kids of all ages, and you can easily tweak it to work well for very young children or older kids. For younger kids, give them larger targets and let them stand closer. For older kids, increase the distance and make each round a bit more challenging. You can buy a ready-made bean bag game or create your own using various containers.

These simple sugar cookies get an instant Moana upgrade by Paging Supermom, who turns them into Heart of Te Fiti cookies. They showcase a pinwheel effect to make the iconic spiral and green food coloring for just the right colors. Need a timesaver? Use store-bought rolled sugar cookie dough and follow the directions on the label for rolling it out. Add a cute sign by the tray and get the perfect party treats.

The Jersey Momma creates some super sophisticated-looking Jell-O treats that look more like miniature works of art than the jiggly kid’s snack. A deep blue Jell-O serves as the foundation to represent the bright blue ocean. Then you just need to crush up some vanilla wafers for the sandy shore. A sugar wafer cookie creates Moana’s boat, along with a handmade sail. They’re almost too pretty to eat, but we’re sure your guests will dig in.

Little mini meatballs on toothpicks are an easy and satisfying nibble for guests to grab and eat on the go. Lil’ Luna makes meatballs with a pineapple twist to give them a tropical upgrade. You can make homemade meatballs or use frozen ones if you’re in a time crunch. They’re perfect for a side dish or appetizer, and you can give them a fun name like Maui’s Meatballs or Coconut Pirates.

Kids love sandwiches, and they’re super easy to grab and eat at a party. These sliders from The Soccer Mom Blog are ideal for a Moana party, with a tropical vibe and tasty bite. They feature ham, cream cheese, and pineapple on a small roll, with a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Since they’re small, plan to make enough for guests to have two or three (remember the adults at the party will want to eat too).

If you don’t want to worry about cups, ice, and pouring drinks at your party, go with bottled water or other bottled beverages. Here’s a super easy way to make something simple, like a water bottle, match your party theme. These water bottle wraps fit around and stick directly onto the bottle, giving your ordinary water a bit of Moana flair. So grab some packs of water and start wrapping.

This stunning cake from ezeBreezy features a gorgeous waterfall, bright flowers, and Moana and Maui standing proudly atop the falls. Surrounding the cake are some yummy Pirouline cookies, adding an extra sweet treat to this magnificent masterpiece. Crushed-up cookies add a sandy surface, and the characters at the top are simply Moana character figures. Or, if you’re super talented and artsy (and motivated), sculpt your figures using modeling chocolate. You do you.

If you don’t have the bandwidth to bake a cake but don’t want to spend the bucks for a custom job, you can meet in the middle. Buy a cake with colorful frosting from your favorite bakery and add a vibrant Moana cake topper, like this one from OPhnoeix. You can find various toppers in different styles, so shop around to find one that fits your unique party theme. You can also use play figures to add some extra pizazz.

Can’t decide what kind of cake to make? Why make a choice? Instead, go with a double design like this cute cake from Sweet Tooth. It highlights the sand and shore on one side and the bright blues of the ocean on the other. Piped rosettes create the swirling waves, and Pirouline cookies wrap around the opposite side. Add some characters on top for extra measure, and you have one fantastic-looking birthday cake.

This brilliant cake from Rebecca’s Cakes is absolutely gorgeous. The colors are so rich, with saturated blues and greens, bright pops of red, purple, and pink, and details that look like you’re watching the movie all over again. The cut shape at the top of the cake creates perfect movement, making it look like the waves are in motion. Once again, character figures add the perfect finishing touch to create a spectacular Moana cake.

Most of the time, people serve the birthday cake toward the end of the party; it’s sort of like the grand finale. But after hosting a kid’s party, you might not feel like cutting a cake. That’s why pull-apart cakes are so appealing. Sing Happy Birthday, then let everyone grab a cupcake and start eating. This Moana pull-apart cake from Monique features blue and green frosting on top of cupcakes to create the land and ocean. Then, a few cookies create Moana’s boat, and some toy figures add the finishing touches.