Daniel Dae Kim on ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Departure: ‘I Made Myself Available to Come Back’
Daniel Dae Kim is speaking out for the first time since his departure from Hawaii Five-0 was announced. In a heartfelt message posted to the actor’s Facebook page, Kim confirmed a contract dispute led to his leaving the show. “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,” he wrote.
“As sad as it feels to say goodbye, what I feel most is gratitude. I am so deeply thankful to our crew, writers and everyone associated with the show—and especially the cast, who have been nothing but supportive through this entire process,” Kim continued. “They and the crew have been my second family for seven years and I wish them nothing but success for season 8—and beyond.”
It was announced late last week that Kim and co-star Grace Park, who have played cousins Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua, respectively, since the show’s first season, will not return for the CBS procedural’s eighth season.
“I will never forget meeting Daniel while still writing the pilot and being certain there was no other actor who I’d want to play Chin Ho Kelly,” executive producer Peter Lenkov said at the time. “Needless to say, Daniel has been an instrumental part of the success of Hawaii Five-0 over the past 7 seasons and it has personally been a privilege to know him. Grace’s presence gave Hawaii Five-0 a beauty and serenity to each episode. She was the consummate collaborator, helping build her character from day 1. They will always be ohana to us, we will miss them and we wish them both all the best.”
Next up for Kim: executive producing a new drama series, The Good Doctor, this fall for ABC starring Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel).
Hawaii Five-0—a reboot of the 1968-1980 classic— stars Alex O’Laughlin (Steve McGarrett), Scott Caan (Danny Williams), and Chi McBride (Lou Grover).
Hawaii Five-0, Fridays, 9/8c, CBS
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