“Ministry takes creativity and bravery, but you will find your place.”
Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Rev. Annalise Pasalo came from a family that didn’t attend church. Yet, even from a young age, she felt drawn to faith and community. When she moved to Hawaiʻi in 2008 to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she found her spiritual home in the Episcopal Church.
After graduation, Rev. Pasalo enrolled at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, where she first learned about Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). “When I first heard about CPE, I didn’t even really know what the acronym meant,” she laughs. “But I knew it was important, and I was sure I wanted to come back home to the islands to pursue it.”
Her timing was providential. When she applied in 2015, Pacific Health Ministry (PHM) was offering its summer intensive CPE program for seminarians. Rev. Pasalo remembers those early days with both nerves and gratitude. “It was a really diverse group, and I was nervous about fitting in, but everyone was so kind and supportive. Many of us still keep in touch today, and several are serving in ministry here in Hawaiʻi. That foundation continues to be such a gift.” Rev. Annalise is married to Rev. Ernesto Pasalo who has served as a Pacific Health Ministry staff Chaplain since 2023.
Although Rev. Pasalo is not currently serving as a chaplain, she describes her CPE training as invaluable. In addition to gaining practical, hands-on experience, it taught her how to communicate her faith without depending on ecclesiastical language, a skill she has applied to every part of her ministry.
One moment from her CPE residency still stands out. While serving at The Queen’s Medical Center, a baby was born whose mother could not care for her. The infant was restless and uncomfortable, and the nurses did their best to comfort her while juggling the demands of their other patients. Finally, Rev. Pasalo asked if she could hold the child. “I just held her for a couple of hours as she dozed off. I prayed over her and thought, this is the work—meeting people where they are, whatever they need.” It became a defining moment in her ministry, reminding her that she could bring her love of children, compassion, and faith into her vocation.
Today, Rev. Pasalo serves as the vicar of three Episcopal churches on Oʻahu’s Windward side: Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Waimānalo, and Calvary Episcopal Church in Kāneʻohe. Together, they are developing a shared ministry model that emphasizes collaboration, resource sharing, and strong relationships.
Through it all, she continues to value the role of PHM in Hawaiʻi’s communities. “PHM is such a huge gift,” she affirms. “As a parish priest, I can’t always get to the hospital quickly enough. Knowing I can call on PHM chaplains who are trained, compassionate, and deeply rooted in our local culture is a blessing not only to the families they serve but also to clergy like me.”
For those discerning a call to ministry, Rev. Pasalo offers simple but powerful advice: keep an open mind. “Being a priest, pastor, minister, or rabbi doesn’t have to look one way. There are many needs in the world and ways to meet them. Ministry takes creativity and bravery, but you will find your place.”