Art. ʻĀina. Pilina. Magic.
Aloha mai kākou! ʻO Avalon koʻu inoa, no Waikōloa mai au. My name is Avalon Dawn Paradea. I was raised in and continue to reside in Waikōloa, Hawaiʻi.
Like any human, I am a lot of different people all wrapped into one. Imma do my best to be both thorough and concise when I say:
I am a genderliminal (they/ them), neurodivergent synesthete of European descent/ haole who’s family settled in Hawaiʻi when I was four years old. I am an ʻāina-based artist, working consciously with natural components both locally foraged and carefully sourced elsewhere. My visual art, poetry, writings, and studies focus on themes such as human and more-than-human pilina (relationships), queer identity, ancestral connections, demilitarization, personal and community healing, and the reigniting of Kanaka ʻŌiwi and other Indigenous knowledge systems. Creative engagement can radically change how we connect with ourselves and the world around us.
I have been a haumāna of kapa and waihoʻoluʻu mea kanu (plant dyes) under my kumu, Roen Hufford, since 2017. She and other mentors such as Kaʻiulani de Silva, Wes Sen, Dalani Tanahy, and Verna Takashima have taught and inspired me for many years. I am forever grateful for their ongoing guidance and support. As someone who is hānai to these practices, I do not own ʻike Hawaiʻi. I aim to incorporate these systems of knowledge into my own dynamic practice with humility, care, and ongoing conversations. I offer free demos and activities to our local community as often as possible, in order to make these practices more accessible. It is important to me that my work not overshadow the efforts of Kanaka Maoli practitioners. Please visit this living document for a list of ʻŌiwi creatives to support and follow.
I hold a bachelor’s in anthropology with a minor in ethnobotany and a master’s in environmental science. I have experience in fields such as oral history, educational outreach, archaeology, and environmental conservation. Hike with me only if you want to stop every ten feet to learn about yet another cool plant.
In my “spare” time, I can be found honing my skills in spellcraft and divination, cuddling my ancient cat, learning new oli, studying old maps, playing harp, cooking ʻono kine grindz, and scheming up ways in which I may subvert the rusty shackles of capitalistic colonial dogma (watch out, patriarchy: my cat is helping).
Please contact me if you are interested in art workshops, collaborations, field research, commissions, or other activities that may be up my alley!
