Film & Cinema · Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Niu Forever W/ What We Call Home

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Niu Forever with What We Call Home is a documentary double bill at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF46), a Made in Hawaiʻi world premiere. Niu Forever, directed by Alex Cantatore, runs 57 minutes in English and Hawaiian and follows a friendship between a Sri Lankan knowledge keeper and a Hawaiian cultural practitioner who work to bring edible coconuts back to Hawaiʻi and restore the niu as the Pacific's tree of life. It ties cultural revival to food sovereignty and climate resilience, while an invasive pest threatens the effort. The companion short, What We Call Home, directed by Josiah Mendoza, runs 15 minutes and follows a family in a self-governed, houseless community searching for the meaning of home as the government moves to remove their land. HIFF prints no rating, so check the box office if you are bringing children. The screening is on November 4 at 6:00 PM at Consolidated Theatres Kapolei, 890 Kamokila Boulevard, Kapolei. HIFF prints no per-ticket price on the film page; members get 20 percent off up to two tickets per showtime, and fees may apply. On the same calendar, Purehearted plays at the same theatre the night before, and on November 5 Orphan Myth screens at 6:00 PM followed by Made In Hawaii Shorts 2 at 7:00 PM. Kahala screenings of Niu Forever are on October 28 and 30.

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