Donalyn Dela Cruz
Donalyn stands firm in doing the right thing for the right reasons, the right way.
Donalyn Dela Cruz is a strategic communications advisor specializing in public affairs, community engagement, and navigating complex issues across Hawaiʻi. Through her firm, DDC Consulting, she works with organizations, agencies, and businesses to shape messaging, build trust, and align stakeholders around initiatives that intersect community priorities, policy, and public perception.
Her work reflects a deep understanding of Hawaiʻi’s cultural and political landscape, grounded in relationship-building, thoughtful engagement, and clear, credible communication. She is often called upon to support efforts that require both strategic insight and a nuanced approach to community dynamics.
Prior to founding DDC Consulting, Donalyn served in senior communications roles at the state and federal levels, including as Deputy Communications Director and spokesperson for Governor Neil Abercrombie, Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, and Communications Director for the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education. She began her career as a news journalist and continues to write as a freelance contributor.
Donalyn serves on several nonprofits that support children and families in Hawaiʻi.
Recognized as one of Pacific Business News’s 25 Women Who Mean Business (2025), she was also honored by Marquis Who's Who for her expertise in consulting services. In 2026, she received the Alumni Service Award from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, recognizing leadership, innovation, and service within the homeland security community.
Donalyn holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is a member of the inaugural cohort of Omidyar Fellows and a recipient of Pacific Business News’s 40 Under 40 recognition.
Her work is grounded in trust, clarity, and navigating complexity.
