Dew Plus has Tourney and Altus derailers. Valencia has C102 and Deore. Shimano mechanicals on the Valencia are better than the Hayes on the Kona. Valencia specs a CroMo fork, Kona doesn't say. Acera crank on the Valencia versus a low end FSA on the Kona. Better wheels on the Trek.

My vote's on the Trek, but the Kona should suffice as a low buck alternative. You are getting less, but I'm not sure the upgrades are 100% worth the delta in pricing but is close.

I commute also, your #1 concern is reliability, and service.