CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Retired federal meteorologist Wyman Au has been given several awards for volunteering at his credit union.
Singing praise
of credit unionsA retired forecaster firmly believes
in saving for a rainy day
When asked to sing the national anthem and "Hawaii Aloha" at a recent statewide credit union convention, in front of 400 people, Wyman Au wasn't bashful about it. "I like to sing," he said, breaking into song Thursday outside his apartment building.
Au, 64, believes in making others smile.
He joined the credit union movement 20 years ago, and has been a devout supporter since. He joined the board of his credit union, the Honolulu Federal Employees' Federal Credit Union, in 1984. Au said he has always wanted to help people, and he strongly believes that credit unions can help people financially.
As a volunteer member of the board of directors, Au helps to run the credit union, establishing policies and hiring managers. He also served as director-at-large for the 99-member statewide Hawaii Credit Union League from 1987 to 1997. And he has solicited big bucks door-to-door for the American Heart Association.
Last year, the credit union league named Au volunteer of the year. He's received other awards as well.
"He's very active in participating in credit union chapter functions and other credit union activities ... as well as he was very eager to get involved in the self-study program that's made available to volunteers," said Warren Nakamura, president and chief executive of the Honolulu Federal Employees' credit union.
Au remains humble, though he's happy to talk about his achievements.
"I'm not great or even good. I just do it because I feel like it should be done," he said.
Au's father was a first-generation immigrant to Hawaii from China, while his mother was second generation. Au was the third of six brothers. In order, they are William, Wilson, Wyman, Whitlow, Wilkie and Willis.
Wyman and his wife Elizabeth, 62, named their son Wendell and their daughters Winona and Wailisa, continuing the trend.
Au grew up near Waikiki, graduated from Saint Louis School in 1956, and was one of five in the first class to graduate from the Meteorology Department at the University of Hawaii.
He served in the Air Force, charting winds and analyzing weather for Pacific operations.
He then served in the Hawaii National Guard, and remained in the reserves when he joined the National Weather Service in June 1960. Wyman recently retired as a forecaster, after nearly 43 years with the weather service.
He was on duty, coincidentally, when Hurricane Iwa hit in 1982 and when Hurricane Iniki devastated Kauai a decade later.
With Au, volunteerism has extended into his personal life, intertwining with his Christian faith.
He teaches Bible studies at the Light of the World Missions Church in Kapalama on Oahu. He became Christian when he was 33 (his mother was Taoist) and he and Elizabeth are missionaries. They've made five mission trips to the Philippines in the past couple of years, mostly to the northern island of Luzon, and one trip to China. He and Elizabeth want to do missions in Korea and Thailand, as well as Africa and Haiti, where they have contacts, Au said.
Speaking of potential converts, he said, "You just have got to be given a chance to believe in something that's there."
