KAILUA-KONA — A theft discovered earlier this week from a Honokaa man is striking a nerve in the community.
Known as the Voice of the Honokaa Dragons, Dominic Yagong has been emceeing all the school’s sporting events with his own equipment since 1992. On Tuesday afternoon, he discovered a cordless mic, sound mixer and speaker had been stolen from his Honokaa home.
Yagong got home a bit early that day to get ready for the first home basketball game at Honokaa High School when he discovered the missing items. The estimated cost of the stolen property is $2,400.
“I was quite shocked because I didn’t notice it was missing,” Yagong said. “It was kind of disheartening.”
Adding insult to injury, Yagong said, the thief took a bag filled with other mics, adapters and cords.
“I’m left with a speaker with no cords to plug into. All my stuff is basically useless right now,” he said.
Yagong went on to emcee the game with the school’s PA system. However, the difference in sound was noticeable. That night, the 57-year-old took to Facebook to vent his sadness and frustration about the theft.
“The thing that really bothers me isn’t about the equipment, it’s that someone would come to my home and violate my home,” Yagong said. “To have that broken is what bothers me the most.”
Honokaa High School principal Rachelle Matsumura noticed the difference in sound during the basketball game. Like many others, she was shocked to learn about the theft.
“Dominic is a special guy,” Matsumura said Wednesday. “Seeing it on Facebook is disturbing. I can’t believe it.”
After Tuesday night’s post, Facebook erupted with comments of support and frustration for the Voice of the Honokaa Dragons. Yagong’s post was shared 231 times as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The reaction to Yagong’s post has amazed the Honokaa man.
“People are angry,” he said. “I’m always called to be an announcer and the people appreciate that about me. It’s almost like a community asset was stolen.”
Honokaa High athletic director Keith Tolentino said Yagong does so much for the community and the school, including all the athletic events.
“He’s part of my athletic program,” he said. “He’s just one of the biggest supporters of the Honokaa Dragons.”
Tolentino said Yagong’s voice is unbelievable.
“His type of announcing, it gets everybody in the crowd up and cheering,” he said.
Matsumura said the school is talking about what they can do next. What they’re hoping for is the quick return of his items.
“We don’t want this to hurt his spirit,” Matsumura said. “We’re talking about how do we make this pono and make it right.”
Although the theft has saddened him greatly, Yagong said there is still no place he’d rather be than in Honokaa. It’s a special place.
“Equipment can be replaced. They can’t take away my voice,” he said.
Yagong is not only an announcer for Honokaa High School. He’s also donated his time and equipment to hundreds of community events throughout the years.
Hawaii police officers stationed in Honokaa confirmed a theft report was taken at Yagong’s home. If anyone has information regarding the stolen property or incident, they are asked to call Officer Charles Martins at 775-7533.
