Big Island Mayor Harry Kim went home yesterday after being hospitalized four nights in Honolulu, and said he is feeling well enough that he plans to catch up on paperwork this weekend before returning to work Monday.

Kim fell ill before boarding a flight home from Indonesia after a 12-hour delay and was rushed to The Queen's Medical Center Sunday with what was originally thought to be bacterial pneumonia. Specialists ruled that out but are not quite sure what caused his severe chills and high fever, Kim said.

"I probably caught a bug that was hitchhiking," Kim said by phone from his home last night. "I'm on antibiotics and it seems to be working. Truthfully, I feel very fortunate to have recovered so fast."

Kim said his fever reached 107 degrees, but that he received good care from a doctor aboard the flight home. Because he was so ill, Kim described the flight home as "the most miserable time in my life."

Kim was in Indonesia to participate in a disaster-preparedness workshop at the request of the Indonesian government.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.