Daniel Dae Kim is speaking out. Recently, the Hawaii Five-0 star explained why he left the CBS TV show after seven seasons, Deadline reports.
As reported earlier, both Kim and co-star Grace Park will not return for season eight of Hawaii Five-0. The two played Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua, respectively, on the police procedural reboot. The cast also includes Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, Chi McBride, Masi Oka, and Jorge Garcia.
On Facebook, Kim explained that he left Hawaii Five-0 because he and CBS were unable to reach an agreement over the terms of his new contract:
By now many of you have heard the news, and I’m sad to say it is true. I will not be returning to Hawaii Five-0 when production starts next week. Though I made myself available to come back, CBS and I weren’t able to agree to terms on a new contract, so I made the difficult choice not to continue.
As an Asian American actor, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find opportunities at all, let alone play a well developed, three dimensional character like Chin Ho. I will miss him sincerely. What made him even more special is that he was a representative of a place my family and I so dearly love. It has been nothing short of an honor to be able to showcase the beauty and people of Hawaii every week, and I couldn’t be prouder to call these islands home. To my local community, mahalo nui loa.”
Kim is currently serving as an executive producer on his new ABC TV show The Good Doctor.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Hawaii Five-0? Will you watch without Kim and Park?
Yes, I will miss kono and chin Ho Kelly. But I will try to hang on to watching Hawaii Five_O because I love Steve McGarrett. But, yes they will be missed they were a very important part of the show and it won’t be the same.
(I’ll try this again since the site apparently didn’t wanna post my original comment…) It’s wrong of CBS to not give equal pay to them, and it is clearly due to them being Asian. As a fellow Asian, we are short-sticked all too often, and even the entertainment industry does it. We are stereotyped into certain roles, we are paid less, we are only given limited roles, and some Asian roles aren’t even played by Asians. It’s 2017!!! Another kick to this is the CBS CEO’s wife is Chinese! In my opinion, she should stand up for her fellow Asians,… Read more »
Really? With 1 more season to go, they couldn’t come to an agreement? What a crappy way to end the series….
Will miss both, especially hottie Grace Kim. Hope she’s replaced with another hot babe.
CBS need to get their sh*t together and pay them equally cause they are a part of the show and it just won’t be the same without them! I definitely won’t be watching season 8
Well, that is very disappointing indeed. Chin Ho and Kono are such integral characters and they will be missed. What is wrong with these television producers/stations that they have to play hardball with our favourite characters…and then we lose them. I will never understand the how the tiny brains of these people function.
I am saddened to hear that Daniel Day Kim and Grace Park are leaving Hawaii Five-O. They are both great actors and the show won’t be the same. Both should have equal pay and it is not fair otherwise. The show is a favorite of mine and I will still watch but with sadness. I will miss both of them. CBS has made a big mistake for sure.
Its total bull **** the show wont be the same without those two and i definitely wont be watching
The show won’t be the same without Daniel and Grace. They can’t be replaced. CBS should be willing to pay them what Alex and Scott make. I think their characters are just as important. And I’m not sure I want to keep watching if they’re gone.
What do I think? I think I’m royally pissed off. Why SHOULDN’T Daniel Day Kim he get equal pay? He certainly seems to have equal time onscreen (or close). He’s a wonderful actor and I’m going to really miss him! I cannot believe there’s going to be a Hawaii Five-0 without Chin Ho Kelly. However, I’ll still watch because it’s one of my favorite shows ever (and I am old enough to have watched the original, although I was a little kid). 🙂 And I’ll watch for Daniel Day Kim’s show The Good Doctor, too.
Smart move, CBS. Get rid of the Hawaiians on Hawaii 5-0
I love this show and he will be sorely missed!!!
That sad when cbs can not pay equity pay the show won’t be the same
I never even watched Hawaii Five-0, but as an Asian American, I completely support both of them for taking a stand in this matter. I am a life long tv watcher and I have always thought Asians are under utilized, under paid, and unappreciated by society. And even in 2017, we still are and it’s a disgrace. I don’t understand why the CBS boss’ wife, Julie Chen, doesn’t take a stand for her fellow Asians.
I am a fan but will not watch without these two actors. Their characters were integral to the series. If this is a case of inequality in the pay department I think CBS has made a big mistake.