In the days leading up to the end of his third term, many masked well- wishers visited Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim’s office to express their gratitude for his decades-long serv­ice to the community.

On Friday during one of Gov. David Ige’s weekly virtual meetings with the county mayors to discuss COVID-19 response efforts, two soldiers of the Hawaii Army National Guard surprised Kim and presented the State of Hawaii Distinguished Service Order medal on behalf of the governor.

Ige said he wanted to honor Kim, 81, for his commitment and dedication to the people of Hawaii island and the state. He spoke with the state’s adjutant general, Gen. Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, to help devise a plan to surprise Kim.

Kim epitomizes the spirit of a true public servant, Ige said in a phone interview.

Kim’s term was to end by noon today. He served 36 years in public service — 24 years as a civil defense administrator and 12 years as mayor.

A livestreamed inauguration was scheduled for noon for Mayor- elect Mitch Roth to be sworn in as the new mayor.

With the medal and certificate presented by Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Kumalae and Maj. Albert Ne, Ige recognized Kim’s combined exemplary service as the mayor and civil defense administrator as well as his keen insight and knowledge to help save lives and reduce property loss.

“Mayor Kim deftly brought together and solidified professional bonds with federal, state and county agencies that facilitated disaster mitigation, response and recovery efforts,” the certificate said.

Kim was genuinely surprised, Ige said. “I was proud to award a true public servant in a way that’s so appropriate.”

In a phone interview with the Star-Advertiser, Kim recalled closing his eyes as Ne placed the medal around his neck. “I had to keep my eyes closed for a while because I was going to tear up.”

The Distinguished Service Order medal is awarded by the governor to “any individual who has made substantial contributions of exceptional significance” to the state and its people.

The medal was flown to Hawaii island from Oahu, and county staff arranged for Kim’s family to be at the presentation. “I didn’t know anything about it,” Kim said.

Throughout his tenure, Kim said, his goals were to make the community better, keep properties affordable and preserve the island’s land and lifestyle. He considers the implementation of the community development system his greatest achievement.

In the virtual meeting, Hara surprised Kim by playing the guitar and singing “Kaleohano” by the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau. Two masked soldiers then stepped into Kim’s office and presented the medal and certificate.

The song was fitting for Kim, Hara said, as its title means “voice of authority and respect.”

Hara has known Kim since his youth as Hara’s father, the late Lt. Col. Henry Hara of the Hawaii Army National Guard, worked closely with Kim during emergency response efforts.

Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger Hara joined the National Guard and provided support to Hawaii island during the 2018 Kilauea eruption and Hurricane Lane while he was commander of the National Guard and now in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Kim also served as Hara’s football coach when he attended Waiakea High School in Hilo. He described Kim as a “living legend.” It was an honor to work with him, he said.

The youngest of eight children, Kim was born to Kee and Ya Mul Kim and raised in a one-bedroom home in Olaa, now known as Keaau, with no running water or electricity. At age 14 he and his older siblings worked long hours weaving lauhala mats, baskets and other items to sell.

His father died when he was a teenager, and his mother started Keaau Kim Chee, a business Kim helped run.

Kim graduated from Hilo High School in 1957 and enlisted in the Army, where he served as a medic. He used the GI Bill to attend Southern Oregon University, where he met his wife.

After he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in economics, he returned to Hawaii and worked as a teacher and football coach.

In 1976 Kim was hired as the county civil defense administrator, a position he held for 24 years. He was notably the “voice of calm” for residents when Kilauea lava flows destroyed more than 180 homes in the coastal community of Kalapana in 1990.

“He definitely is the dean of emergency preparedness and emergency response,” said Ige.

Hawaii County Council Chairman Aaron Chung said Kim developed a reputation for being a tireless worker, independent thinker and honest individual during his role as civil defense administrator. “Someone you could trust really when your life was at stake in peril.”

Kim resigned from Civil Defense in 2000 to run for mayor with a modest campaign of accepting donations of no more than $10 per person, sign-waving by himself on the roadside.

He served as mayor from 2000 to 2008 and was reelected for a third term in 2016.

“You could see whatever he decided, whatever he tried to do (whether I agreed with it or not), you could see it was borne of a genuine belief that it was for the betterment of the island and not something that was politically motivated or influenced by any special interests,” Chung said.

Among the well-wishers who visited Kim on Friday were Chung and fellow Council members Herbert “Tim” Richards and Ashley Kierkiewicz, who presented him with a Certification of Appreciation.

Among Kim’s efforts and initiatives lauded by the community are the construction of the West Hawaii Civic Center and Ana Keohokalole Highway.

When asked whether he had any regrets during his tenure as mayor, Kim said he wished he responded more quickly to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, which became a virus hot spot with more than 25 fatalities attributed to the outbreak.

“I could have done more and I know that,” Kim lamented.

He also said he would like to remain involved in resolving the controversy over the Thirty Meter Telescope.

Kim was tasked by Ige with developing plans to resolve the dispute between activists and supporters of the project on Mauna Kea, and said he still would like to help the stakeholders reach a mutual understanding. “If there’s some way I could be involved in that, I’m going to,” Kim said, adding that science is a part of the heritage of Native Hawaiians.

As for his next step, Kim said he does not know yet.

But he plans to continue serving the public in some capacity. “Public service doesn’t have to be through government,” he said.

Kim offered advice to all leaders who are given the opportunity to serve in an elected office: “Make it better.”

“Just imagine what a world it would be if we all tried to make it better,” he said.