Pastor Malakai Pahulu
I was born and raised in Tonga, where I attended Pre-School, Elementary, High School, and College. In 1986, I moved to the USA, settling in East Palo Alto where I met my wife and attended Foot Hill College in Los Altos, California. After some time, we moved to Texas, where I worked for an Oil Export Company.
My wife and I then moved to Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, where I worked at the Marriott Hotel as a Security Guard and at Embassy Vacation Hotel as a Supervisor for the Security Department. During our time in Lahaina, I had the opportunity to become a Lay Speaker at the Lahaina United Methodist Church.
I served as a Lay Leader and assisted the Pastor in organizing church visions and operations. I facilitated communication between the Tongan and English-speaking congregations and managed programs for the Tongan community.
In July 2006, we relocated to Anaheim, California, so our children could continue their education. During this time, I felt my call to become a Local Pastor. I pursued my calling by attending Claremont School of Theology, obtaining my license to be a Local Pastor, and completing a five-year course of study, including advanced courses.
In June 2018, Bishop Grant Hagiya of the California Pacific Conference assigned me to Hilo United Methodist Church in the Big Island of Hawaii, where I served as an Associate Pastor for the Tongan Congregation. In May 2024, I accepted a call from Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut of the Desert Southwest Conference to serve at Mesquite United Methodist in Mesquite, Nevada where I now happily reside with my family.
We are merely workers and servants to do the work we are called to. But He gives us love, strength, and humility so that we do not boast about what we can do, but about the one thing we should boast about: ‘To glorify Jesus Christ.’ Yes, Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.'”
Linda Pahulu
Linda ‘Ohuafi, known as Linda Pahulu, was born and raised in the Kingdom of Tonga. She has three siblings and is the oldest among them. She attended school in Tonga, completing the 12th grade in 1979. After graduating, she continued her education at a trade school until 1981. Linda then traveled to Australia for a short period before moving to New Zealand, where she worked for her aunt for a year. Following her time in New Zealand, Linda relocated to Southern California, where she had family members living. During this time, she met her future husband, Malakai Pahulu. They were married in Washoe County, Nevada, in 1988.In 1990, they moved to Channelview, Texas, where an uncle on Linda’s side of the family resided.
After their stay in Texas, they relocated to Maui, Hawaii, where they lived until coming to Mesquite. Linda and Malakai have two grown daughters and a son. When asked if she had a favorite Book of the Bible, she responded that she loves reading the New Testament. Linda has settled well into our church community and recently helped the sewing group put the finishing touches on a beautiful quilt. She especially enjoys fellowship time with congregation members before and after our 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Service. Linda joins her husband whenever possible on pastoral visits for those in our congregation who are homebound, in local and nearby hospitals, or in assisted living homes. We are blessed to have Linda and her family as part of our Church Family!