Welcome to Koali Niu, Established 2023
A Non Profit, and the First Hawaiian Coconut Gene Bank on MauiA Coconut Gene Bank is a Living Sanctuary
Koali Niu was established in 2023 as the primary means of preserving the genetic diversity of coconut palms, and is the first gene bank established on Maui. The gene bank is critical because coconuts cannot be stored like traditional seeds. Each variety must be grown, cared for, and monitored over time. Every tree preserved in a gene bank safeguards traits that may one day be essential for food security, medicine, and ecological resilience. We’re not just preserving the coconut. We’re also preserving the culture.
Founder Vicky Durand holding a young Niu at the Hana, Maui Coconut Gene Bank.
Saving Niu is to Save the Soul of Hawaii
In the lush, rain-rich ahupua‘a of Koali, a quiet rescue mission is underway. For centuries, the Niu (coconut palm) was the heartbeat of Hawaiian culture—a “Tree of Life” that traveled across the Pacific in the hulls of great voyaging canoes.
Today, we face a silent extinction
What was once a sacred provider is now often reduced to a mere “ornament,” stripped of its life-giving fruit. We are fighting a “holy war” against invasive threats like the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and the erosion of ancestral memory. At Koali, we provide a rare ecological refuge to ensure the Niu does not become a ghost of the past.
Why this work needs us all
A living gene bank survives only through care, presence, and collective guardianship. Public support and sponsorship make it possible to tend these trees, protect rare lineages, and restore the relationship between people and the land that once knew abundance. When we stand together in this work, preservation becomes remembrance—and the Niu remains alive, not as an artifact of the past, but as a living promise for what is to come.
The Mission
Koali Niu is a nonprofit cultural revitalization project and Maui’s first living Coconut Gene Bank. We are more than a garden; we are a living library of biodiversity. Our work is simple but urgent: To find, propagate, and protect rare Hawaiian Niu varieties before they vanish from the earth forever. If you’re interested in partnering with us, making a donation, or writing a story about Koali Niu, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us. In the meantime, learn more about the Koali Niu Gene Bank.
The Vision
Our vision is to restore a thriving, ancient Hawaiian food system by securing the genetic future of the Niu. We see a world where these rare varieties are no longer on the brink of extinction, but are once again a foundational pillar of Maui’s food security and cultural identity. By educating the next generation and fostering deep-rooted awareness, we ensure that the wisdom and biodiversity of the ancient Hawaiian coconut endure for centuries to come. Click on the button to learn more about Niu—The Tree of Life.
The Threat
The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle/CRB is one of the most serious threats facing coconut palms in Hawai‘i today. This invasive pest burrows into the crown of the tree, damaging its ability to grow, reproduce, and survive. Because the destruction often happens before visible decline appears, entire lineages can be lost before anyone realizes they are at risk. But the CRB isn’t the only threat the Niu is facing. Learn about the Rhiniceros Beetle and other threats by clicking the button below.
Read the Latest Blog Articles
Planting Koali Niu
Clearing the Land for the Niu Gene Bank Thanks for tuning in and I want to tell you it has been an AMAZING two weeks of progress here! It is actually hard to know where to start. Maybe with one of...
Your Help Sustains Future Generations
When you donate your time or money, or become a sponsor, you join the circle of care that keeps the Niu alive. Together, we ensure this Tree of Life remains standing for generations to come.