Niu Workshops

NIU WORKSHOPS: Ma’o Farms Waianae 29 Sept 2019 ( 4 x hour workshop)

Founders Indrajit Gunasekara and Manulani Aluli Meyer received an invitation from Maʻo Organic Farms manager Kaui Sana to give a workshop for Ma’o interns on the niu. Maʻo Farms has mature trees on the farm site. Workshop tasks included: (1) How to identify different varieties of niu; (2) Recognise the stages of seed maturity; (3) demonstrate how to husk mature niu nuts; (4) Instruct on how to extract niu milk from chopped nui meat; show techniques for climbing a niu palm; (5) demonstrate cleaning a niu palm.

Identifying husked niu test! Photo by Manulani Aluli Meyer
Discussing husked niu from Maʻo Organic Farms.
Photo by Ngahiraka Mason.
Indrajit demonstrating techniques for niu palm climbing.
Photo by Ngahiraka Mason.
Indrajit with Maʻo Organic Farms intern learning how to husk niu with a garden pick.
Photo Manulani Aluli Meyer.
Opening niu with Thailand produced coconut husker in Kaneohe.
Photo by Ngahiraka Mason.

Malu Cassidy and Manu Singh husking nuts at Palehua. Photo by Ngahiraka Mason.

weaving workshops

Weaving at Ward Center to celebrate Na Mea Makahiki 2021. Photo by Chelsie Onaga.
NiU Now! Makahiki event @ Na Mea Hawai’i, December, 2020. The day the Niu Christmas tee was first attempted! Pictured: Noelle, Malu, Joanna, Vilsoni, Kai, Ngahiraka, Manulani, Indrajit (designer), and Jake

Kaui Sana with niu backpack woven by Indrajit Gunasekara. Photo Manulani Aluli Meyer.
Screenshot of Vilsoni Hereniko niu baskets. Photo by Vilisoni Hereniko.

Ma’o Farms Waianae 29 Sept 2019 ( 4 x hour workshop)

Invitation from farm manager Kaui Sana to give a workshop for Ma’o interns on the niu.

Workshop tasks included:

How to identify types of niu, how to recognize different stages of seed maturity, how to identify different varieties of niu, demonstrations on how to husk mature nuts, and instructed areas on how to extract niu milk from chopped and blended niu meat. 

Ma’o Farms April 26,  2020 (3-hour workshop)

Workshop tasks included:

Selected seed nuts from six varieties of Ma’o farms trees, how to differentiate coconut seeds for nursery setting and for eating, and how to prepare the nut before putting them in a nursery.