Washington–Daniel Dae Kim, star of the CBS hit series “Hawaii Five-0,” will host the 17th Annual Gala Awards Dinner of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) on May 4.

“Celebrating Our Legacy of Leadership: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Public Service” starts with a one-hour reception at 6:30 p.m. Venue is the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in this nation’s capital

“Kim is known for playing roles that encourage our community to be more politically and civically engaged,” said APAICS President and CEO Gloria Chan. “I’m thrilled he will be able to join us for a week of celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander leadership.”

APAICS is a national non-partisan, non-profit organization. It promotes Asian Pacific American political participation and representation at all levels, from community service to elected office.

Today, there are over 16.6 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the U.S., the fastest-growing minority group. By 2050, the figure will rise to 40.6 million, or over 9% of the U.S. population.

Despite this, stereotypes abound in the mainstream media. Kim has consistently transcended race and stereotype, through stage, TV and screen roles ranging from the King of Siam, a Shakespearean hero, a social worker for the Chicago needy, to a counter-terrorist agent,

Kim stars as Chin Ho Kelly in “Hawaii Five-0,” which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. Before this, he was best known as Jin on “Lost.” His performance led to a shared 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble and awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actor–the AZN Asian Excellence Award, a Multicultural Prism Award and a Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition. In 2009, the prestigious KoreAm Journal honored him with an Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment.

Born in Busan, South Korea and raised in New York and Pennsylvania, Kim discovered acting while a student at Haverford College. He briefly considered a career as an attorney. Eventually, he decided to follow his passion. He moved to New York City, performing onstage in classics, “Romeo and Juliet” among them. He also joined an improv comedy troupe.

He further honed his craft by studying at the Graduate Acting Program at New York University, earning a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. Kim’s film career then began in earnest: “The Jackal,” “For Love of the Game,” “The Hulk,” “Spider-Man 2” and “The Cave,” and also the Academy Award-winning film “Crash.” Recently, he completed work on the independent film “The Killing Game,” starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Kim has guest starred on TV’s “CSI” “ER” and for two seasons on “24” as CTU Agent Tom Baker. In 2008, he also starred in the Emmy Award-nominated miniseries “The Andromeda Strain.” He has also lent his vocal talents to video games, creating characters in “Saints Row” 1 and 2, “Scarface: The World Is Yours,” “Tenchu” and “24,” as well as the animated television series “Justice League Unlimited” and “Avatar.” In summer 2009, he went back onstage as the King of Siam in “The King and I” at London’s world-renowned Royal Albert Hall.

Kim spends most of his time in L.A. and New York. He lives in Honolulu, where he devotes his free time to his family and different charities.