Racquel was raised in Kīlauea and is now a resident of Anahola. She left Kauaʻi to pursue her education, receiving her bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Skidmore and her Master’s in International Development from Emory with a focus on Social Enterprise and Sustainable Urban Development. While living in Atlanta, she worked with the Partnership for Southern Equity on finding solutions to gentrification in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. She has also worked internationally on development projects in Latin America and Africa. Since returning to Kauaʻi, Racquel has focused her skills in communications, fundraising and administration to help local non-profit organizations.

Racquel is passionate about building equitable, sustainable and resilient communities. As an avid cycle commuter, EV driver and member of the Kauaʻi Climate Action Coalition and Built Environment Task Force, she is dedicated to transitioning Hawai’i into a zero-carbon future. She is also an artist, one of her mediums being music that she creates with her husband Edoardo. When she’s not in the office or on stage, you will probably find her out enjoying nature with her miniature schnauzer Tobi.