Coconut Conservation: A New Film Premieres in Hawaii

The documentary 'Niu Forever' has a final public screening scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at Consolidated Theatres Kapolei.

The film is a feature at the 2026 Hawaii International Film Festival. Its opening message reads, 'kupu ka niu, kupu ke kānaka,' which translates to the idea that humanity flourishes when the coconut grows.

Co-producer Indrajit Gunasekara spent four years documenting his conservation efforts for the project. He serves as vice president of the Koali Niu Coconut Gene Bank on Maui.

Gunasekara described the coconut tree as a provider of nutrition, culture, and ecological balance. He cited a Sri Lankan saying about generosity: 'when given generously, receive it generously.'

The producer noted that the movie captures only a small portion of his long-term work. He was surprised by how strongly the community reacted to that limited view.

Gunasekara said he did not anticipate how deeply the subject would resonate with local identity. He observed that the work speaks to the hearts of people and the identity of the trees and the culture.