Rafael Del Casitllo
2012 Candidate for U.S. Representative District 2
RAFAEL DEL CASTILLO
Democrat
1. Do you believe that the United States government should formally acknowledge the special legal and political status of Native Hawaiians, as it has done for Native American and Alaska Native Groups? If so, what would you do to secure such ackowledgment for Native Hawaiians? If not, why not?
l am a long-time supporter of recognition (see below). The United States government announced its support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Congress is thus legally compelled to pass recognition. I will make it my top priority to pursue recognition with our congressional delegation and the mana‘o and kökua of my Hawaiian kumu.
2. What are some examples of actions that you have personally taken to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians?
Early 1990s: co-directed Homeless Aloha staff managing 22 agencies providing homeless outreach/services;
1993: co-authored the Homeless Aloha report to the Legislature;
1994-5: co-directed accreditation of Wai‘anae’s mental health agency;
1995-6: surveyed colonialism effects worldwide and published Amy C. Richardson prize paper “Heaven Under the Sword,” on dual government; and
2002-present: health care advocate for those denied access to health care, including working to improve VA care on Maui.
3. How would you address the challenges of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act and the Native Hawaiian Education Act?
Survey NIEA and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders staff to predict House members’ likely positions on reauthorizations; recruit supportive House members; introduce a House version of S. 66; push for passage of H.R. 857 (100 percent federal share for Medicaid services provided to Native Hawaiians); and target needs the Native Hawaiian Education Council identified in 2011 with reauthorization legislation for education.
The opinions expressed here are those of the candidate and do not represent the views of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
