HILO — Mayor Harry Kim has been medevaced to Oahu after driving himself to the hospital early Thursday morning, Hawaii County officials confirmed Thursday morning.
Wil Okabe, Kim’s managing director, told West Hawaii Today that Kim drove himself to Hilo Medical Center around 4 a.m. Thursday after experiencing chest pains. The 78-year-old mayor has previously had three heart attacks. His last heart attack was in 2008.
Shortly after 4 p.m., the county issued a press release saying that the mayor was in stable condition at the hospital and a diagnosis has not yet been made.
Okabe said Kim called him early Thursday to let him know of the situation and declared him acting mayor.
Kim was medevaced to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu at 6:45 a.m. At the time, Kim was coherent and talking. No additional information was immediately available.
Rattled staff was seen filing into the county offices in Hilo Thursday morning for an emergency meeting. All of the department directors have been notified and are ready to carry on the work, Okabe said.
“We’ll work it through. We’re asking for the community’s prayers and we’re confident Harry will be back very soon,” Okabe said.