There are tons of ideas in the galleries! Try here for luau: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&meta=search&type=full&search=luau
And here for beach:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&aid=41&pageID=1
I did tiny palm trees for cupcakes using mini pretzel sticks and royal icing. If you needed bigger trees you could use the pretzel rods. If you use RI pipe a layer of leaves on wax paper then apply them to the rods. Otherwise you get droopy trees. 
RI:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=684993
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=61027
Fondant or Gumpaste:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=746513
HTH!
gmcakes and cambo started a very popular design. I have two of them in my photos. They are sheet cakes and some of the templates are in the sketches gallery. If you are not doing a sheet cake I made a palm tree taking a lolli pop stick and wrapping it with a strip of fondant. Then use the royal icing to make the leaves (sorry no picture ot that).
HTH
Melissa
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