Amy Perruso

Amy Anastasia Perruso was born on November 5, 1968, in Fallbrook, California. She is a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the 46th district on Oʻahu. The district includes Waipi'o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Waialua, and Mokule'ia.

Perruso has been deeply involved in education and community advocacy throughout her career. She taught social studies in California, Shanghai, and Finland before settling in Hawaii, where she has taught in the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for approximately 20 years. Her political journey was motivated by concerns about education policy, particularly after witnessing the impacts of the federal No Child Left Behind policy on students.

Education

Perruso holds multiple advanced degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California
• Fulbright Scholar at the University of Helsinki
• Teaching credential from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• PhD in Political Science and Government from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Political Experience

Perruso has served in the Hawaii House of Representatives since 2018. Within the legislature, she holds the leadership position of majority whip and serves as vice chair of the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee. She is also a member of the House Committee on Finance.

Prior to her legislative service, Perruso served as secretary-treasurer of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, beginning in 2015. During her tenure, she helped lead the development of the "Schools Our Keiki Deserve" campaign, advocating for fully-funded education systems. She was also a member of Governor David Ige's Every Student Succeeds Act Team and has been recognized as a finalist for the Gilder-Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award.

As a legislator, Perruso has championed campaign finance reform, advocating for clean elections measures, bans on fundraising during legislative sessions, and cooling-off periods for former legislators entering the lobbying field. She has also hosted numerous community forums to engage constituents in the legislative process.