Critics at the time dismissed the 2009 Kona Triangle event as mere folklore or New Age performance art. However, local arborists noted an unusual vitality in the groves planted during those sessions. Whether it was the carbon dioxide from the singers' breath, the physical vibration of the soil, or something more metaphysical, the saplings took hold in the harsh volcanic landscape with surprising speed.
The title track introduces a childlike xylophone melody over a lopsided, almost stumbling drum pattern. A sub-bass pulse holds the track together like a gentle hand on the shoulder. The title suggests an act of quiet hope—singing to something not yet grown. The music follows suit. Kona Triangle Sing A New Sapling Into Existence 2009
The Kona Triangle, roughly defined by the summits of Mauna Loa, Hualālai, and the coastal stretch of Kailua-Kona, has long been a place of intense energetic focus. In 2009, against the backdrop of a global recession and a growing sense of environmental urgency, a collective of local musicians, ecologists, and indigenous practitioners gathered with a singular, strange goal. They believed that the focused resonance of human vocalization could catalyze the growth of the endangered Koa and Māmane trees. Critics at the time dismissed the 2009 Kona
This album is best experienced:
The concept was rooted in the theory of cymatics—the study of visible sound and vibration. Participants gathered at dawn, forming a literal triangle around freshly cleared patches of lava rock where tiny, fragile saplings had been placed. There were no microphones or speakers. Instead, the air was filled with "Oli," traditional Hawaiian chants, layered with experimental harmonic singing. The practitioners weren't just planting trees; they were attempting to "entrain" the biological frequency of the plants to the frequency of the island itself. The title track introduces a childlike xylophone melody
October 12, 2009 Label: [self-released / digital] Location: Vancouver, BC / Internet
To understand the unique frequency of this album, one must first examine the geometry of the group itself. Kona Triangle was the collaborative brainchild of two distinct sonic architects: Sam Beam (of Iron & Wine) and Thomas Greaves (of Sedona).