HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-26 Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim is medevaced to Oahu as precautionary measure -- press release
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
April 26, 2018
NEWS RELEASE
Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim is Medevaced to Oahu as Precautionary Measure
Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim has been medevaced to The Queens Medical Center
in Honolulu as a precautionary measure after experiencing chest pains early Thursday.
The 78-year-old Mayor drove himself to Hilo Medical Center around 4:30 a.m. and
proceeded to call Managing Director Wil Okabe and other staff to notify them of the
situation. He was medevaced to Oahu around 6:45 a.m.
The Mayor has had three previous heart attacks, and underwent quadruple bypass
surgery in 2008.
“He knows the symptoms, and he knows what to do,” Okabe said. “We’re offering
prayers for Harry, knowing that he’ll be back very shortly,”
Okabe will serve as Acting Mayor while the Mayor is on sick leave.
An emergency meeting of the County Department heads and executive staff was held to
let everyone know about the situation.
“We’re going to continue to do the work; everyone assured me that they’re committed to
carrying out the mission we always have – of making this a better place to live,” Okabe
said. “Harry has confidence in everybody that they’ll continue the mission.”
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.