Hawaiian for coconut
The friendship between a Sri Lankan knowledge-keeper and a Hawaiian cultural practitioner spark a movement to put edible fruit back into Hawai'i's long-neglected coconut trees.
Guided by generations of indigenous wisdom, their community rallies for food sovereignty and ecological conservation, as an invasive species threatens their effort to restore the cultural heritage embodied by their Tree of Life: the Kumu Niu.
Niu Forever invites you into the heart of Hawai'i, where the niu - or coconut tree - embodies ecological resilience, food sovereignty, and cultural reawakening.
See how communities come together to protect genetic diversity, combat invasive species, and find healing through their deep connection to land and each other.
About the Filmmakers
Alex Cantatore (Producer/Director)
Alex Cantatore is a mission-driven filmmaker committed to environmental, social and spiritual well-being. His 2021 short documentary Kumu Niu, the proof of concept for this project, won the 2002 award for Best Environmental Short Film at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival, the Jackson Wild Media Award for Best Human Planet - Short Form and has been broadcast nationally on PBS. Alex has done extensive documentary film and video work for NGOs to promote forest conservation, sustainable building and investment in youth as the future stewards of our planet. Alex believes in a human-first and intersectional approach to filmmaking, and his documentary style reflects his commitment as a lifelong student in the art of listening.
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