Bernice Owusu

**Other politicalaffiliations** | Hui Pū ʻAna (2014–2021)

**Bernice Adjoa Owusu** (born 10 May 1982) is a Hawaiian politician and activist who has served as a member of the House of Representatives for Oahu since 2018. She is a member of the Green-Progressive Party. She is the first African-Hawaiian woman elected to parliament in Hawaii.

Born to Ghanaian parents in Honolulu, Owusu graduated from ʻIolani School in 2000. After graduating, she received a nursing degree from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 2004, afterwards becoming certified as a registered nurse and working at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children as a neonatal nurse. While working full-time as a nurse, Owusu became politically active as an activist for civil rights issues.

Due to her political activism, Owusu attempted to enter elected politics in the 2014 general election as a member of the Hui Pū ʻAna party list in Oahu, but she was not elected. She returned in the 2018 general election and was elected to parliament, taking office on 30 July 2018. As a legislator, Owusu has focused her legislating on civil rights and environmental issues. Following the formation of the Green-Progressive Party in 2021, she switched her party membership.

## Early life and education

Owusu was born on 10 May 1982 in Honolulu to parents Kojo Owusu (born 1940) and Ekua Dwomoh (born 1950). Her parents come from the Ashanti ethnic group of Akan people, and are both from the city of Kumasi in southern Ghana. Her father is a neurologist and moved to Hawaii in order to teach at the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1979, while her mother is a former homemaker who went on to become a nurse. Owusu is the second of three children and only daughter; her brothers include Sebastian "Sebby" (born 1980) and Francis "Frank" (born 1985). She was raised in the Manoa neighborhood of Honolulu.

Owusu began her education in 1987, attending public schooling in Honolulu. When she was 12, she transferred to La Pietra, a private, 6–12 Catholic school for girls. She transferred to ʻIolani School, a private, coeducational 9–12 school, at age 14. At ʻIolani, Owusu was an honors student who played on the girl's varsity basketball team. She graduated from the school as salutatorian in 2000. After graduation, she enrolled in her father's university the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where she graduated with a nursing degree in 2004.

## Nursing career

After graduating from nursing school in 2004, Owusu became certified as a registered nurse (RN). She began working as an RN at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, where she worked as a neonatal nurse. In the position, Owusu was tasked with caring for newborn infants from their births until their departures from the hospital.

In 2018, Owusu spoke about the racism she endured as a neonatal nurse, speaking of numerous instances where mothers expressed to her or her superiors that they did not want a black nurse caring for their children. She left her nursing career in 2018, in order to enter politics.

## Political career

### Political activism

Owusu first became politically active in 2013, when she became involved in civil rights protests held throughout Hawaii. In June 2013, she cofounded the Hawaiian civil rights nonprofit the Hawaiian Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (HAACR), with which she began organizing her own protests and demonstrations in favor of civil rights reform and against police brutality, primarily advocating for discriminated against ethnic groups in Hawaii, such as black Hawaiians, Filipino-Hawaiians, and Native Hawaiians.

Owusu joined the Hui Pū ʻAna political party in 2014, and was included as a candidate on its Oahu party list in the 2014 general election, although she was ultimately not elected to parliament. After losing the election, Owusu returned to her career in activism, continuing to work with the HAACR and organize civil rights demonstrations throughout Hawaii

### Parliamentary career

Ahead of the 2018 general election, Owusu was once again included in the Hui Pū ʻAna party list in Oahu. This time, she was ultimately elected to parliament, and took her seat in the House of Representatives on 30 July 2018. Upon her election, Owusu became the first African-Hawaiian woman elected to parliament in Hawaii, which garnered media attention.

After entering parliament, Owusu began to focus her legislation on civil rights issues, environmental policy, and police reform. This has led some commentators to consider Owusu to be a future contender for environment minister or interior minister. She was appointed chairperson of the Standing Committee on Energy and Environmental Affairs by Cristine Hyodo Larson, becoming one of only two newly elected legislators to chair a standing committee.

Following the formation of the Green-Progressive Party in 2021, she switched her party membership.

## Personal life

Owusu is unmarried and has no children. In 2019, responding to questions about her personal life, she stated: "I'm a politician, and my politics are what I think people should care most about. Marriage and children has never been my plan, and I'm not ashamed to admit that."

Owusu is fluent in both English and the Twi dialect of the Akan language. She is a dual citizen of Hawaii and Ghana. Owusu is a Christian, and at one point in her life considered becoming a reverend. She resides in downtown Honolulu.