Once a year, Hawai'i goes a little nuts: Bank tellers sprout kitty cat ears and eyebrow-pencil whiskers. The grocery clerk wears a Dracula cape. Offices are draped in faux spider webs. Pumpkins sprout on the reception desks. It's an orange and black world.

And that's just among grown-ups.

And, of course, there are potlucks. Concern over sabotaged treats has all but eliminated homemade goodies for trick-or-treaters, but good cooks can still strut their stuff at office parties or family gatherings.

Ho'olele Kakona, one of those bank tellers who plans to dress up on Halloween Wednesday (she's not saying as what), said her work group hosts a movable feast. The food flows in the lunchroom from midmorning until closing time as tellers and others take their breaks.

"The challenge is finding a dish that can sit for a while and still knock people's socks off," said Kakona, who has learned to place salad bowls in larger bowls of ice, or make use of frozen gel packs.

Her potluck advice: Serve dishes that don't crumble. Portion dishes in advance. (For example, serve cupcakes instead of a larger cake that needs to be cut.) Bring disposable serving ware and utensils (attractive plastic platters are available at party and craft supply stores) and takeaway containers for leftovers.

Her group assigns noncooks to bring paper and plastic goods, wet wipes and extra garbage bags. And there's a cleanup crew that gets to eat for free.

But don't you feel awkward wearing witches' togs at work?

"Nope," says Kakona. "We have to be grown-ups the whole rest of the year."

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.