Community Mourns Dominic Yagong, Voice of Honoka‘a Dragons, Former Council Chair

Dominic Yagong’s death on January 7, 2026, at age 66 was met with an outpouring of remembrance across Honoka‘a and wider Big Island County. For decades Yagong combined civic service and community presence, becoming a familiar voice at high school athletic events and a respected figure in county government through his tenure on the Hawaiʻi County Council, including service as council chair.

Yagong’s public profile was rooted in two overlapping roles. As the public-address announcer for the Honoka‘a Dragons, he helped knit community life around youth and school sports, marking games and milestones that attracted family and neighborhood attendance. In elected office he brought that neighborhood connection into the corridors of county government, serving as council chair where institutional leadership and familiarity with local issues shaped deliberations and priorities.

The loss is both emotional and practical for the community. Volunteer-led athletics, public school event infrastructure, and civic rituals that rely on long-term volunteers are particularly vulnerable when a longstanding organizer departs. Yagong’s combination of public visibility and institutional experience also embodied a pipeline between grassroots civic engagement and formal governance, a channel that supports local participation in budgeting, program delivery and civic institutions.

Beyond the immediate void at sporting events and memorial gatherings, Yagong’s passing underscores governance questions for Big Island County. Elected leaders with deep local ties play a role in maintaining continuity for programs that depend on county support, grants and volunteer coordination. When such leaders step away, either temporarily or permanently, residents and public officials face the task of preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring sustained funding and oversight for youth and community services.

Community members have shared memories and tributes across local networks, highlighting Yagong’s years of volunteerism, mentorship of young athletes and steady presence at civic events. As of January 8, 2026, no public memorial service or formal plans had been announced. Residents seeking updates are advised to monitor Hawai‘i County announcements and Honoka‘a community channels for information about services and opportunities to honor his legacy.

Yagong’s life illustrates the intersection of volunteerism and public office that sustains many rural communities. His passing will test how quickly community institutions and local government can adapt to preserve programs and engagement that depended on his leadership.