HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-18 Mayor Kim resting in hosptial after a mild heart attack on Saturday -- 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
June 18, 2018
NEWS RELEASE
Mayor Harry Kim Taken to Emergency Room with Mild Heart Attack
Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim was taken to the Emergency Room at Hilo Medical
Center early Saturday morning with a mild heart attack. On Monday morning, the
Mayor was resting and recuperating in the hospital.
The Mayor said he had suffered discomfort and his wife called 911 for an ambulance.
After working a very long day, Mayor Kim was taken to the hospital early Friday, where
he was diagnosed with a relapse of pneumonia. He was released from the hospital the
same day with doctor’s orders to rest.
It is requested that no calls or visits take place, to allow the Mayor to rest.
“The doctor told me I can’t leave because he doesn’t trust me to rest,” the Mayor said.
“I’d fire him if I could.”
The Mayor has been at the helm of the ongoing response to the Puna eruption, and late
Thursday night he was taking a look at the preparations of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center at the Kea’au High School
gym. The facility opened its doors to offer individual assistance to the public on Friday
morning.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of everybody in County, State and Federal agencies for
getting the DRC up and running in less than a day,” Mayor Kim said.
He said he had worked closely with FEMA’s Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Tom
Fargione to make it happen.
“We swore to each other to make this DRC the best in the nation as far as coordination
and comprehensiveness of services,” the Mayor said.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.