Avalon Paradea was raised in Waikōloa Village on Hawaiʻi Island, where they continue to reside with their ʻohana. They obtained a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in ethnobotany from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2014, subsequently working in the fields of environmental conservation and archaeology. From 2021 to 2023, they conducted their graduate studies in the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES) program at UH Hilo, with a focus on exploring how our human communities develop pilina with place. They have identified as an ʻāina-based artist since 2016, creating with natural materials such as kapa, plant-based dyes, and earth piments.

Avalon is presently a 2023 Rappa Fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Beth Lenz, working on a project entitled, “Engaging Sci-Art to Enhance Inclusion, Accessibility, and Sustainability in Coastal Communities.” This entails connecting with local artists, scientists, and venues to assess how Hawaiʻi Sea Grant might be able to provide support towards collaborative opportunities. Folks of various backgrounds are increasingly recognizing the value in bridging the gap between arts and sciences. These practices have long been presented as opposite ends of a false dichotomy as enforced by western modes of thinking. In truth, science and art flourish best in tandem, inseparable from one another – a fact well understood by Indigenous scientists and creatives in Hawaiʻi and around the globe. Incorporating imagination into environmental education both encourages and enhances engagement with diverse communities. As an artist with a background in science, Avalon is honored to help foster these connections between people and organizations throughout our pae ʻāina.