PODCAST: Celebrating culture during AAPI Heritage Month

Kaulana Park believes Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate culture and recognize past leaders who have paved the way for the present generation. 

Park and Gretchen Hudacek want to keep those sentiments alive, entrenching themselves in the credit union movement with the belief in creating inclusive, supportive environments.

“Recognizing accomplishments and sharing success stories empowers others to see what is possible,” says Hudacek, vice president business loan officer at $4 billion asset Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire, Wis.

In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast, Park and Hudacek share what AAPI Heritage Month means to them, the importance of recognizing diversity, and their belief in credit unions. 

Park, board chairman at $2.2 billion asset Hawaii State Federal Credit Union in Honolulu, believes in family, service, and the spirit of aloha. Hudacek values credit unions’ member-centric focus, community, and appreciation of differences in others.

You can listen to the CUNA News Podcast in Apple’s iTunes Store, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio.

In this episode:

1:13 An introduction to Kaulana Park

6:43 Signs of a well-run board

8:30 How Park views AAPI Heritage Month

9:18 The importance of diversity-based observation days

10:34 Park’s everyday interests

12:45 Living with a service mindset

14:02 Park’s favorite aspect of Hawaii State Federal

15:20 An introduction to Gretchen Hudacek

17:10 A belief in credit unions

17:54 What AAPI Heritage Month means to Hudacek and Royal Credit Union

19:19 Recognizing diversity everywhere

19:58 Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace

21:12 Hudacek’s love of the outdoors and favorite vacation