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Family
History
| In
the late 1940s, Donovan’s paternal grandparents came
to Hawaii from the Philippines to seek a better life for themselves.
Rodrigo Dela Cruz came to work in the pineapple fields of
Wahiawa, leaving his wife and family behind. His wife, Feliciana,
joined her husband months later. |
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Rodrigo
worked for Dole for more than 30 years and was a member of the
ILWU. Feliciana also worked in the plantation fields, and later
worked in homes and the Airport Holiday Inn as a maid/housekeeper.
She was also a member of the ILWU.
Rodrigo
and Feliciana had seven children: Luciana “Lita”;
Maxomino “Max” (recently passed away); Hilario “Loddy”;
Florence (deceased), Diosdado “Dado”; Lucita “Lucy”;
and Elvis.
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Donovan’s
father, Hilario “Loddy” Dela Cruz, was born
at the Wahiawa General Hospital and was raised in Whitmore
Village. He attended Leilehua High School, and has been
working at the Pearl Harbor shipyard for more than 30 years.
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| Donovan’s
maternal great-grandparents came from Puerto Rico to work
in the sugar plantations of Hawi, on the Kohala Coast of the
Big Island. Donovan’s grandmother, Carmela “Carmen”
Gutierres Bargas, was one of twelve children. She only attended
school until the eighth grade, as she needed to stay home
to take care of her brothers and sisters. She
later moved to Oahu and worked at the Dole Cannery. Soon after,
she became a custodian at August Ahrens Elementary School
where she and her husband worked for more than 30 years. She
is now a retiree and still a UPW member. |
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Donovan’s
mother, Patricia, was born in Honolulu and was raised in
Kaimuki and Palolo. She has two sisters, Silvia and Antoinette,
and one brother, John. She is a Waipahu High School graduate.
Patricia is a loan clerk at Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union.
Donovan’s sister, Donalyn, is a reporter with KHON.
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Educational Background
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University of Oregon - bachelor’s degree in Journalism
and bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies
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Leilehua High School
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Wahiawa Intermediate School
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Wahiawa Elementary School
Professional Background
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Watermark Publishing: Director of Marketing
Responsible
for the sales and marketing of books that promote local culture,
history and Hawaii.
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Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations: Account Supervisor
Responsible
for supervising the Oahu Visitors Bureau account, promoting
the Island of Oahu as the ideal visitor destination.
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McNeil Wilson Communications: Account Executive
Interfaced
with local, national and international media when representing
travel accounts, including the Hawaii Visitors and Convention
Bureau, promoting local culture, small businesses, and Hawaii’s
physical attributes.
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Hilton Hawaiian Village: Public Relations Coordinator
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Co-author, The Okazu Guide and The Puka Guide, books promoting
local businesses
Community
Service
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Wahiawa Neighborhood Board #26 - Chairman, 2000 to present;
member, 1998 to present
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Go North Shore Sunset on the Beach, Public Relations Chairman
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Oahu Arts Center, Mililani Mauka, Public Relations Co-chairman
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Chamber of Commerce 2002 Business Legislature Forum, Chairman
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Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Vice President, 2001-2002
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Kahuku Federal Credit Union Micro-Enterprise Program, guest
instructor
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Kahuku High School Career Day, guest speaker
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Wahiawa Lions Club, member
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Whitmore Filipino Community Association, member
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Leilehua High School Education Foundation, member
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Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, member
Honors
& Awards
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Pacific Business News Forty and Under Award 2001 Recipient
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Public Relations Society of American Koa Anvil 2001 Award Recipient,
for
- “The
Oahu Ohana Getaway Press Trip” - promoting Oahu as the
ideal family destination
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