These Tiki Masks carved from watermelon are a fantastic luau decoration & fun way to display your food. Full step by step tutorial makes it easy!

---

You can serve watermelon slices or watermelon juice at your luau, and now you can use the shell to create awesome tiki decorations, too.

Photos and instructions by National Watermelon Promotion Board. To get more carving ideas and instructions, visit www.watermelon.org.

First, what is a Tiki?

In Māori mythology a Tiki represents the first human being on Earth. Each Tiki has its own meaning, such as power, knowledge, wisdom, happiness, or prosperity.

Carving Tips

• Have the watermelon at room temperature when you carve. The cuts will be easier to make. You can chill the watermelon in the refrigerator after cutting and before serving.
• After you’ve drawn the design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to use as guides for your cuts.
• Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip – the sharper the knife, the easier and cleaner the cuts will be.
• When attaching cut pieces on the watermelon to make your design, use round toothpicks or skewers. Flat toothpicks will often break due to the weight of the piece or the thickness of the rind.

Tiki Mask Table Decoration from a Watermelon

Preparation

1. Slice 1/4 inch off end of watermelon to provide a stable base.
2. Use pencil to draw the face, making adjustments in scale to your particular watermelon.
3. Use melon baller to scoop out nostrils; use small paring knife to clean up edges.
4. Next use paring knife to cut out the inside mouth area, leaving room for the teeth. 
5. Next cut individual teeth, using the same small paring knife, and use a spoon to dig out a large area of flesh for the mouth cavity.
6. Next carve out eyes, digging a deep cavity in each, for drama. Use a channel knife to carve details.
7. Use some carved out pieces to cut a “bone” decoration for top of head, and attach with a toothpick.

Watermelon Tiki Mask Luau Decoration

Instructions

1. Using an oblong watermelon, slice ¼ inch off one end of watermelon.
2. If hollow carving is desired, scoop watermelon flesh out of carving and then place on cut end to provide a stable base. (Top of watermelon will be round, uncut side)
3. Use a pencil to draw the face, making adjustments in scale to your particular watermelon.
4. Use a melon baller to scoop out nostrils – use a small paring knife to clean up edges.
5. Next use a paring knife to cut out the inside mouth area, leaving room for the teeth.
6. Next cut the individual teeth, using the same small paring knife, and use a spoon to dig out a large area of flesh for mouth cavity.
7. Next carve out eyes, digging a deep cavity in each, for drama. Use a channel knife to carve details.
8. Take two balls of watermelon from watermelon flesh, using a melon baller. Insert into eyes with toothpicks.
9. Cut the crown of the pineapple off and place on top of the tiki with toothpicks. Cut remaining pineapple into cubes.
10. Cut cubes of papaya and place on a tray with the tiki along with cubed watermelon and pineapple.

Examples of Tiki Masks for inspiration.

Want more? See all of our luau party ideas.

[pt_view id=”849bfbf9o4″]

Tell us what you think.

Did you make a watermelon carving of a tiki mask? Did you find the tutorial easy to follow? Show us a photo – add it to your comment so we can see!