Coach Niumatalolo portrayed in ‘Mormons’

Ken Niumatalolo, a former Radford High School and University of Hawaii quarterback who went on to become a successful U.S. Naval Academy football coach, is one of six devout Mormons from around the world featured in the new film titled "Meet the Mormons."

The PG-rated documentary, produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, premiered Friday in 250 select theatres nationwide, including Dole Cannery 18 in Hono­lulu and Laie Palms Cinemas on the North Shore.

In addition to Niu­mata­lolo, the feature-length documentary also spotlights engineer and humanitarian Bishnu Adhi­kari, who is originally from Nepal; Caro­lina Munoz Marin, an amateur kickboxer from Costa Rica who runs a charity with her husband; Jermaine Sullivan, an academic counselor and bishop in Atlanta; Utah missionary mom Dawn Armstrong; and retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, who was known as "the candy bomber" during the Berlin Airlift in the 1940s, according to a news release issued by the church.

A website dedicated to the film says "Meet the Mormons" aims to educate and inform its audience about the faith through the profile stories. "From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging the stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith," the site says.

Early this year Niu­mata­lolo, who is of Samoan ancestry, was inducted into the first class of the Polynesian Hall of Fame for his achievements as a coach.

Seven years ago Niu­mata­lolo became the 38th head football coach at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Niu­mata­lolo racked up 49 wins during his first six years at the academy — more than any other Navy coach during an initial six-year period. Also, he is the first coach in the football program’s history to lead Navy to a bowl game in each of his first three seasons.

The LDS Church will donate all net proceeds from the film’s theatrical release to the American Red Cross.