Our Moana Birthday Bash
“(And Free Editable Invitations Included!)”
It all began with a song. You know the one — “See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me…” Yeah. It didn’t just call Moana. It called my daughter. Loudly. Every single morning. For weeks. She was barely one and already acting like she had a wayfinder’s heart. Whether she was wiggling to the beat or trying to climb out of her crib like she was about to sail across the Pacific, I knew — this girl needed a party as bold and bright as she was. So, when her first birthday started creeping up on the calendar, I didn’t have to think twice. It had to be Moana.
Credit: Spot of Tea Designs
With just a few dollars, a lot of coconut-scented inspiration, and a pinch of Canva magic, we threw a tropical birthday bash that felt like a true island adventure. And now, I’m sharing everything I learned — every lei, every coconut cupcake, and every laugh — with you. Because if you’re a mom dreaming of giving your child a Moana moment to remember, then girl… the ocean is calling.
Turning the Backyard into Our Own Little Island
I spent a solid week debating whether to host the party indoors or take our chances with the backyard. Now, I love the safety of a cozy indoor celebration (no bugs, no sunburns, no sudden rain showers), but there’s something about golden afternoon sunlight that just feels right for an island theme. So I crossed my fingers, checked the weather forecast twice a day, and committed to going all-in outdoors.
Credit: Moana Inspired Luau Birthday Party by twinkle twinkle little party
With a few string lights, some dollar-store décor, and a whole lot of leftover faux greenery from last year’s party, we slowly turned our yard into a tropical escape. I grabbed some raffia ribbon and wrapped it around our table legs to create tiki-style tables. Then I built a pretend Moana canoe out of cardboard boxes — which doubled as the cutest little photo booth. We tossed in a couple of inflatable flamingos just for fun, because let’s be real… flamingos make everything cuter.
The Ocean Called… and Our Invitations Totally Answered
Now, I’ve designed a lot of birthday invites in my time. We’ve had everything from princess tea parties to dinosaur digs, and I’ve tried every invitation style under the sun. But let me just say — our Moana invites? Hands down, my favorite yet. They were bright, tropical, and bursting with personality. Picture this: Moana holding her oar confidently on one side, Maui flexing his muscles on the other, and a big wooden sign in the middle with my daughter’s name in bold letters — “SARAH IS TURNING ONE! The Ocean is Calling… Join us on October 25, 8AM.” It looked like something out of a professional design catalog. But here’s the kicker — it was completely free and editable on Canva.
I found a set of Moana-themed templates online (I’ll link it for you below), and I swear, I had the whole invite personalized and ready in under ten minutes. I printed a few for keepsakes and family and emailed the rest out with zero stress. I even saved one as the wallpaper on my phone the week of the party. It made everything feel so official and exciting.
And honestly? Those free templates saved me so much time and money. I’ve had print shops quote me $50+ for something half as cute. These ones didn’t just include the invites — the full set had matching thank-you cards, welcome signs, and even backdrop designs. Everything coordinated perfectly, and the tropical graphics totally brought the whole party together.
If you’re wondering how to grab and edit one for your own party, don’t worry — I’ve got you. Once you click the link, you’ll see the preview. Just hit the “Edit Template” button (it’s a blue one — can’t miss it), and you’ll be able to customize everything from the name and party details to the fonts and colors. When you’re happy with it, download it as a PNG (that’s what I used), and voilà — you’ve got your official Moana party invite.
Printing them was just as simple. I saved mine to my laptop, opened them up in Photo Viewer, chose my color printer, adjusted the print size, and hit print. One tip? Mess around with the “Fit to Frame” option before printing — sometimes it crops the edges in a weird way, and other times it looks perfect. Play with it a little, and you’ll get that “just right” look.
CUSTOMIZE AND DOWNLOAD NOW ON CANVA
Beginner’s Guides
Before you get too wrapped up in planning the rest of your party magic, let’s talk about invitations! Our free invitation templates are not only adorable, but they’re super easy to customize too. Whether you’re adding in party details like the date, time, and location or even a special note, you can personalize everything to fit your theme perfectly.
A. Download Instruction
Want to know how? Read this step-by-step guide to help you download and customize our free editable invitation templates:
- Scroll up the page until you see the “Download Free Editable … Here” button.
- A new page will be shown in seconds, and you will be able to see the preview of our template designs.
- Choose/click the “Edit Template” button (blue button).
- Now you can personalize our templates, like putting your son or daughter’s name, changing the font-size and color.
- Once you finished with the editing, you can download the final draft (Go to File > Download > Select the File Type (PNG is the best option) > Download.
B. How to Print the file?
“Steps for printing our templates”
- Save the image you want to print to the computer or to a flash drive if it is not saved already. (Step 5 of Download Instruction).
- Go to the file explorer and find the file. Double click the image.
- The file will open in Windows Photo Viewer
- Go to print at the top and then go to the print option
- Select the color printer if you want the photo to print in color
- Select the print size you want
- You may want to play around with the “Fit picture to frame” option. Sometimes that option will allow the photo to print closer to the border, but sometimes it will cut off the edges of the photo.
- Hit print and Voila!!!
Speaking of party invitation, we avoid to see anything basic, especially when it comes to birthday celebration. By unusual, I mean something that isn’t typical Floral or Disney theme, but rather something like what’s in this page or maybe you want to see other themes like Moana 2 and Fun Summer Moana themed birthday invitation templates.
DIY Island Decor on a Dollar Store Budget
Now let’s talk decorations, because this is where I let my creativity run wild. I knew I didn’t want to spend a ton, but I also wanted to make the party feel like a real island getaway. The trick? Stretching every dollar and reusing what I already had on hand. I hot-glued raffia skirts to tables, turned mason jars into tropical vases by stuffing them with fake hibiscus flowers and green shredded paper, and added little seashells I had leftover from a summer beach trip. My daughter even helped with the decorations — which resulted in one hot-glued napkin and a memory I’ll treasure forever.
Credit: DIY Moana Birthday Party Backdrop “Returns the heart of Te Fiti” by partyace on Etsy
What tied it all together, though, was that everything matched. The free Canva party kit included more than just invitations — we got matching signs, thank-you tags, and even a printable backdrop. It all shared the same dreamy color palette: turquoise waves, bold florals, tropical leaves, and even a few friendly flamingos. It made the entire setup feel polished and intentional, even though half of it was held up by tape and hope.
Use this template as your birthday party backdrop
If you’ve ever wondered whether an editable Canva party kit can really elevate a party? Let me be the first to say, yes. A thousand times yes. It made everything look so much more “put together,” and it saved me from running all over town trying to find coordinating supplies.
The Cake Was a Whole Oceanic Moment
Of course, no birthday bash is complete without a cake — and for our Moana party, I wanted something that really captured the spirit of adventure. I found inspiration online and ended up going with a two-tiered ocean-themed cake topped with waves, fondant flowers, and a little Moana figurine standing proudly at the top. It was honestly too cute to eat (but don’t worry, we still devoured it).
Credit: Moana birthday cake by Soul Cakes by Tanya on Facebook
To tie the cake in with the rest of the party, I added tropical details from the invitation design — bright blues, ocean swirls, and hibiscus accents. That little touch made everything feel seamless. From the invites to the cake, the whole event looked like one big, beautiful, cohesive island party. Guests were snapping pictures before I even cut the first slice.
Wrapping It All Up
Planning my daughter’s Moana birthday celebration was such a labor of love. It took some time, sure — and maybe a few glue gun burns — but seeing her face light up as she danced barefoot in our backyard “island” made every moment worth it. If you’re a fellow mom hoping to plan something memorable and magical without breaking the bank, please know this: it’s totally doable.
Use what you have, get creative, and take advantage of those free editable templates (seriously, they’re a lifesaver). You don’t need to sail across the sea to create an unforgettable party — sometimes, all it takes is a good playlist, a little imagination, and a Moana invite that tells your guests: The ocean is calling. Come celebrate.
Your Moana Party Planning Questions Answered
1. Where can I find Moana-themed party supplies?
Many party supply stores and online retailers offer Moana-themed decorations, tableware, and favors. Additionally, our free Moana party kit provides editable templates to help you create personalized items at home.
2. How can I make a Moana cake at home?
Start with a basic cake recipe or mix, and use food coloring to create ocean-inspired hues. Decorate with tropical-themed toppers, edible flowers, and Moana figurines. For inspiration, check out various cake designs online .
3. What activities are suitable for a Moana-themed party?
Consider setting up a coloring station with Moana-themed pages, organizing a treasure hunt for “Heart of Te Fiti” stones, or crafting leis with the children. These activities are engaging and align well with the theme.
