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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:54 p.m., Friday, September 12, 2008

Big Island mayor to have heart bypass surgery

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island Mayor Harry Kim will undergo heart bypass surgery on Sunday after suffering a heart attack yesterday, the county announced.

His condition is stable and he is resting comfortably, according to Hawai'i County Managing Director Dixie Kaetsu, who is acting mayor while Kim is off-island. The bypass surgery will be done at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

Kim, 69, was working at county Civil Defense headquarters when he began feeling ill yesterday morning, and went to the Central Fire Station to be checked out.

From the fire station he was taken to Hilo Medical Center, and then airlifted to Queen's.

Kim also 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 was county Civil Defense administrator from 1976 to 2000.

Kaetsu said Kim is grateful for the outpouring of concern and good wishes.