Ten golf bags were stolen from the team's rental van during a team dinner at Chili's Grill & Bar in Waikele last Thursday between 9 and 10:30 p.m.

"The Waiakea girls golf team has already received tremendous community support, such as David and Lorraine Ishii for the girls to receive discounted golf clubs and other equipment, the Pacific Beach Hotel providing complimentary rooms for the team during their stay on O'ahu, and cash donations from concerned citizens across the state," HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said in a statement.

"Of course, given the high cost to replace their equipment and the travel costs to participate in this May's state tournament on O'ahu, any additional community support would be greatly appreciated," Amemiya added.

Waiakea — the defending HHSAA girls golf champion — traveled to O'ahu to prepare for the state championships, which will be held May 9-10 at Turtle Bay Resort.

Belongings of eight of the 10 team members were stolen, including golf clubs sets valued at an estimated $1,500 each. The two other bags belonged to chaperones.

Parents of the victims gave their children their credit card numbers to purchase new clubs while still on O'ahu. Because of the remote location of Hilo, clubs that are ordered could take weeks to arrive.

The team starts its season Saturday at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course. Hilo Municipal golf professional Rodney Acia has been trying to contact manufacturers to see if they can send replacement clubs quickly, coach Ken Watanabe said.

Waiakea will be able to field a team in the upcoming tournament, Watanabe said. The tournament requires four players; Waiakea has five players with complete golf club sets, including three who purchased replacement clubs on O'ahu, Watanabe said.

"The girls confidence level is what I'm worried about right now," Watanabe said. "One, they're shaken, and two, trying to adjust to a whole new set of clubs in a matter of five days is going to be kind of difficult."

Waiakea may be forced to field a limited team for the upcoming state championships if replacement clubs don't arrive soon, Watanabe said.

"My goal was to hopefully bring eight girls to the state tournament," Watanabe said. "Now it's getting a little trickier because they need to play in at least four rounds on the Big Island to qualify for the state tournament. The longer it takes for their clubs to get in, the longer it takes for them to play a match."

Donations to assist the team should be made to "HHSAA: Waiakea Golf Fund" at any First Hawaiian Bank location.