How to plan a tropical party on a shoestring?

Okay so I'm trying to plan a surprise birthday party around a 'Castaway Bay' theme. So does anybody have any ideas on how to spice up the party on a budget (or how to get the top off a coconut to use it as a drinking cup!)
Bear in mind that we are in the Dominican Republic - hmm, challenging - i think so!

Head to the beach, and have a big campfire
check local building sites/skips, but get permission for some planks of wood and some other objects to set up an improvised bar....remember you are castaways!
Ask everyone coming to the party to write a message for a bottle, but not to sign their name on it, then when they arrive put all the messages into a container, later on when around the campfire get people to select a message and ready out and see if you can guess who sent it.... the winner of the best message gets to put it into a bottle and then you throw it into the water...use plastic bottle for safety reasons
Suggest guest come in shipwrecked, beach, or hawaii styleclothing
Oh just thought could you get an old surf board as a table?
enjoy

DO YOU HAVE A DOLLAR STORE IN YOUR AREA? THEY HAVE LOTS OF THINGS FOR A DOLLAR. IT'S A FUN STORE. GOOD LUCK.

cheep rum and a walmart pool

go to e-how.com and they have a ton of ideas

Go to Oriental traders .com They have all kinds of things for parties, very reasonable. good luck.

Limbo dancing! All you need is a big stick or broom handle to go under.

Also, make a punch with stupidly cheap spirits but disguise the taste with loads of fruit juice, and lots of bits of fruit in it.

You could also make some big paper palm leaves and get some brown balloons to blow up for coconuts. Or make coconut-shaped mini pinatas.

The Food Network has a show called Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee. She did a tropical party, so it may be on their website. She tries to do many of her shows on a budget, so maybe that will help. http://www.foodnetwork.com

drill a hole in the coconuts and use a jigsaw - like those black and decker hand-held jobs - to get the tops off

Its hard to plan a party on a shoestring. Not enough room for dancing. better to use a room with a floor. Dopey twat.

I don't know if you can get international shipping, but there is a company in the US called Oriental trading post. They have the cheapest luao stuff like torches, leis, grass skirts, etc. Maybe google them?