Grace M. Pakele

A Honolulu native, Ms. Pakele graduated from Farrington High School as part of the inaugural class of the Health Academy. She began her professional journey in the Hawaii Air National Guard as an Aerospace Propulsion Engineer while concurrently attending Leeward Community College. Ms. Pakele later transferred to Hawaii Pacific University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2002.

Ms. Pakele launched her nursing career with the Hawaii State Department of Corrections and the State Hospital, where she specialized in Forensic Behavioral Health. During her tenure at the Hawaii State Hospital, she served in various leadership roles, including Charge Nurse of the Admission Unit, Nurse Manager, and Nurse Supervisor. She has earned and maintains Board Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC).

In 2011, Ms. Pakele joined the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) 'Ohana, initially as Nurse Manager of 3B2 and later taking on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Nurses of Women's Health. Eager to further develop her nursing and leadership skills, she utilized the NNEI Scholarship to complete a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2022, with a focus on Staff Retention and Satisfaction. In 2021, she transitioned to Primary Care, serving as Nurse Manager, and later Chief, of the Windward Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).