5 Shocking Reasons Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park) Left Hawaii Five-0 After Season 7
The departure of Officer Kono Kalakaua from the hit CBS reboot *Hawaii Five-0* remains one of the most talked-about and controversial cast exits in modern television history. As of December 2025, fans still search for the definitive answer to what happened to the beloved character and the actress who played her, Grace Park.
The truth is a complex blend of narrative closure and a highly publicized contractual dispute that shook the foundations of the show and sparked a major conversation about equal pay in Hollywood. Kono's exit was abrupt, happening between Season 7 and Season 8, and the on-screen explanation only tells half the story.
Grace Park: Biography and Career Profile
Grace Park, the actress who brought the spirited Kono Kalakaua to life, is an American-born Canadian actress with a notable career in genre television before joining the Five-0 Task Force.
- Full Name: Grace Park
- Born: March 14, 1974
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Nationality: American-Canadian
- Spouse: Phil Kim (married 2004)
- Major Roles Before *H5-0*:
- Sharon Valerii/Boomer/Athena in *Battlestar Galactica* (2004–2009)
- Shannon Ng in *Edgemont* (2001–2005)
- Major Role After *H5-0*: Katherine Kim in *A Million Little Things* (2018–2023)
- Career Highlight: Her seven-season run as Kono Kalakaua, a former professional surfer turned rookie cop, cemented her status as a mainstream television star.
The On-Screen Exit: Kono’s New Mission in Season 8
The narrative reason for Kono Kalakaua’s departure was a powerful and meaningful one, providing a sense of closure for her character, even if it felt sudden to viewers.
A Shift to Anti-Human Trafficking Work
In the Season 7 finale, Kono made a life-altering decision. She chose to leave the Hawaiian islands and the Five-0 Task Force to pursue a new, deeply personal mission.
Kono traveled to the mainland, specifically Carson City, Nevada, to join a specialized task force dedicated to dismantling a massive sex trafficking ring. This storyline was a continuation of a plot thread introduced earlier, where Kono, a woman who had often fought for justice for the vulnerable, felt compelled to dedicate herself to this cause full-time.
The show explained her absence in the Season 8 premiere through dialogue, confirming that she was fully committed to this new, dangerous work and was no longer an active member of the Five-0 team alongside Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams.
The Real-Life Controversy: Pay Disparity and Equal Treatment
While Kono’s storyline was noble, the true, off-screen reason for Grace Park’s exit involves a contentious contract dispute with CBS Television Studios, a decision she made in solidarity with her co-star, Daniel Dae Kim (Chin Ho Kelly).
The Fight for Pay Parity
The core issue was a significant pay disparity between the two Asian-American original cast members, Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim, and their white co-stars, Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan.
Reports indicated that both Park and Kim sought contract renewals that would provide them with equal pay to their main cast counterparts. They had been integral parts of the show since its pilot and had dedicated seven years to the series.
Despite lengthy salary negotiations, CBS reportedly refused to offer them the same deal, leading both actors to walk away from the show before the start of Season 8.
A Stand on Principle
Daniel Dae Kim publicly addressed the contract dispute, stating that his departure was a stand for "equal pay" and that the issue was "significant." Grace Park, who is notoriously private, eventually broke her silence, stating that "a number of factors" contributed to her decision, but the industry widely recognized her exit as a powerful statement against unequal treatment in Hollywood.
The departure of both Kono Kalakaua and Chin Ho Kelly (often referred to as the "TV cousins") was a major blow to the show's dynamic and diversity, leaving a void that was never truly filled for many longtime fans. The controversy highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by actors of color in achieving salary equity on major network productions.
Grace Park’s Career Trajectory After Five-0
Leaving a successful, long-running series like *Hawaii Five-0* could have been a career risk, but Grace Park quickly pivoted to a new, prominent role, demonstrating her value and talent.
Joining *A Million Little Things*
Shortly after her highly publicized exit, Grace Park signed on as a series regular for the new ABC drama, *A Million Little Things*.
She took on the role of Katherine Kim, a successful, high-powered lawyer and working mother trying to balance her career with her family life. Her character arc on the show was praised for its depth and complexity, particularly as Katherine navigated personal and professional challenges, including a major storyline about her character's self-discovery and sexuality.
Park’s time on *A Million Little Things* proved that her career was far from over and that she was in high demand for prominent network roles. Her decision to leave *Hawaii Five-0* allowed her to pursue a different type of character and narrative.
The Legacy of Kono Kalakaua
Kono Kalakaua was more than just a character; she was a significant figure in the representation of Asian-American women on television. Her evolution from a rookie cop to a seasoned detective and her final, heroic mission to combat sex trafficking solidified her legacy as a strong, principled member of the Five-0 Task Force.
While the circumstances of Grace Park’s departure were difficult and controversial, the stand she and Daniel Dae Kim took on the issue of pay disparity resonated far beyond the show's viewership, becoming a landmark case in the ongoing discussion about fairness and equity in the entertainment industry. For fans, Kono is remembered not just for her surfing skills or her police work, but for her uncompromising commitment to justice, a trait that ultimately extended to the actress who played her.
Detail Author:
- Name : Heber O'Conner
- Username : bashirian.queenie
- Email : aharvey@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1998-12-09
- Address : 3447 Graham Hills South Garnet, OK 26793
- Phone : 660-274-8598
- Company : Grady, Thompson and Franecki
- Job : Paste-Up Worker
- Bio : Laboriosam rerum itaque quas placeat et. Eligendi accusantium maxime ea possimus. Suscipit est esse nostrum commodi error dolor magnam. Aperiam et impedit ut animi hic provident omnis.
Socials
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/chills
- username : chills
- bio : Quia beatae et qui officiis commodi.
- followers : 1970
- following : 974
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/hillsc
- username : hillsc
- bio : Laudantium ad voluptatem ea et. Quae quae ut ea fuga aliquam fuga. Vel minima id sit distinctio quia porro in.
- followers : 6508
- following : 2519
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/chills
- username : chills
- bio : Labore aut quam culpa. Sint vel placeat quia eligendi vel. Nihil porro sit quia architecto et.
- followers : 2413
- following : 2763
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/clara.hills
- username : clara.hills
- bio : Fuga autem aut ea inventore vitae in.
- followers : 2591
- following : 1396
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@hills2019
- username : hills2019
- bio : Possimus quia doloribus qui eligendi debitis recusandae ex.
- followers : 4961
- following : 996
