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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2008

Big Island mayor suffers another heart attack

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island Mayor Harry Kim was flown to a Honolulu hospital today after suffering his second heart attack in a little over a month and third in about three years.

County Finance Director William Takaba said Kim, 69, was working at county Civil Defense headquarters when he began feeling ill this morning, and went to the Central Fire Station to be checked out.

From the fire station he was taken to Hilo Medical Center, and from there was airlifted to The Queen's Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition tonight, according to a hospital spokesman.

Kim suffered a heart attack at home on Aug. 10, and another in Civil Defense headquarters in May 2005.

Kim has been mayor of Hawai'i County since 2000 and previously served as the county Civil Defense administrator from 1976 to 2000.

Kim's recent heart troubles follow the death of Kaua'i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste earlier this year. Baptiste died June 22 at Wilcox Hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at home. He was 52.