Senator Donovan Dela Cruz
Hawaii State Senator, District 17 - Honolulu, HI
Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Hawaii State Senator, is a graduate of Leilehua High School, the University of Oregon where he earned a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies, and Masters in Organization Leadership from Argosy University. Senator Dela Cruz currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. He serves on boards and is a member of various organizations nationally and locally such as the National Council of Environmental Legislators, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, State Ag and Rural Leaders (SARL) and Leeward Community College Culinary Institute Board just to name a few. Senator Dela Cruz is also the Assistant Vice Chair of the Workforce Development Council. Prior to becoming senator, he also served on the Honolulu City Council for eight years, serving as its Chair for three years, being the youngest chair in the history of the Council, at age 30.
Some of the commendations Senator Dela Cruz has received are the HawaiiKidsCAN Legislative Champion Award for three years, Healthcare Association of Hawaii Legislator of the Year, Hawaii Dental Association Legislator of the Year, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation Inaugural Champion of Agriculture Award, and the 2024 Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Blueprint Champion of the year among others. Most recently, Senator Dela Cruz was honored with the 2026 Champion of Internship Award, the 2026 College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Ka Lei Hano Award, and the 2026 Pacific Century Fellows Hoopasifika Award.
Some of the programs that Senator Dela Cruz has been invited to and participated in are such programs as the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Gettysburg Leadership Experience; Emerging Leaders Program, University of Virginia; American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) Exchange Program to Australia; and American Council Professional Fellows Program to Armenia.
Senator Dela Cruz was instrumental in initiating the Central Oahu Agriculture and Food Hub Project, a detailed plan to revitalize his district of Central Oahu by re-establishing agricultural dominance in the local agriculture industry by bringing farmers and the state together to increase local food production, create jobs, engage in partnerships, and to provide workforce housing resulting in creation of jobs and promoting economic development. The Central Oahu Agriculture and Food Hub Project includes the Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center, a state-of-the-art facility run by Leeward Community College to provide farmers and local entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring new products to the market utilizing locally produced goods.
