Hawaiʻi film documents four years of coconut conservation work

Indrajit Gunasekara co-produced “Niu Forever,” a film currently screening at the 2026 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. The movie documents four years of his conservation work focused on the coconut tree, known locally as the niu. Gunasekara serves as vice president of the Koali Niu Coconut Gene Bank on Maui.

The film opens with the phrase “kupu ka niu, kupu ke kānaka,” which means that when the coconut grows, humanity flourishes. Gunasekara explained that his passion for the tree began in his native Sri Lanka. He cited a local saying: “We have a saying that when given generously, receive it generously.” He noted that the kumu niu coconut tree provides everything generously and asked viewers to consider how generously they receive it.

Gunasekara identified three pillars of the niu’s value: nutrition, culture, and ecology. He stated that the film shows only a very small window of his total conservation work. Despite the limited scope, he expressed surprise at the community response after public screenings. He recalled being struck by how deeply the work touched people and connected to the identity of the place, the trees, and the culture.

The final screening of “Niu Forever” is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. The event will take place at Consolidated Theatres Kapolei. This news item is based on a segment aired on The Conversation on Nov. 2, 2026.