A Pentecostal Anchor in Waianae
On Maipalaoa Road in Waianae, on the dry western side of Oahu, Paradise Chapel AG has spent more than six decades pointing its community toward Jesus Christ. The congregation, affiliated with the Assemblies of God and part of the Hawaii District, describes itself as multi-generational and Spirit-filled, a place where people of all backgrounds, races, and walks of life come to grow in their relationship with God and with one another. Visitors are welcomed on Sunday mornings with a single service, and the church stays connected to the community through the week with food distribution, youth gatherings, outreach to local facilities, and one-to-one pastoral care.
From a Tent in Maili to a Sanctuary on Maipalaoa
The church's story begins in 1953, when evangelistic work in the Maili area started with tent meetings. Those services eventually moved into an abandoned restaurant, and in 1960 the work was formally planted as Maili Assembly of God, with Pastor Douglas Pew as its first pastor. On August 15, 1962, the congregation held its first worship service in a new sanctuary, with Deacon Samuel David Jr., Sunday School Superintendent Robert Bell, Women's Ministries President Anne Loving, and Women's Ministries President Jane Loving serving as the first officers. The present-day name, Paradise Chapel, reflects the decades of growth that followed. The story page closes with Jesus' promise from Matthew 16:18, "upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it," and with John 4:35, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest," a reminder of why the church continues to reach outward into the Waianae community.
Sunday Morning at Paradise Chapel
Sunday at Paradise Chapel centers on a 9:00 a.m. worship service. The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person, and recordings of recent services remain available to watch afterward. Kids Konnect and the nursery are offered during the service, so parents can worship while their children are taught through Bible stories, praise and worship, and age-appropriate activities. All Kids Konnect workers clear a background check before serving. Visitors who want a place to take notes, fill out a prayer request, or connect with the church can use a Connect Card online or download the Church Center app for iOS or Android.
A Pastoral Team with a Chaplain's Heart
Senior Pastor Ronaldo Pascua was installed on December 28, 2014, succeeding Dr. George Nagato, who had shepherded the church for thirty-four years and also served as a former Hawaii District Superintendent. Ronaldo began his pastoral ministry in 1991 as the youth pastor at First Assembly of God on Red Hill. Before answering the call to full-time ministry, he worked as a detective with the Honolulu Police Department. He earned a Master's degree from the Hawaii Theological Seminary in 2008 and was commissioned as an Army Chaplain with the Hawaii Army National Guard, deploying to Kuwait and, in 2013, to Afghanistan. Endorsed as a chaplain through Assemblies of God U.S. Missions, he continues to serve both defenders of the nation and protectors of the community. His lifelong theme verse is Matthew 6:33, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." He and his wife Joy, a registered nurse with US Renal Care, make their home together.
The rest of the pastoral team reflects a similar blend of ministry depth and community ties. Lokahi Koki serves as Executive Pastor and Worship Pastor. George Parton is Missions Pastor. Lenson Kaaloa is Discipleship Pastor and, together with his wife Kanoe, directs the youth ministry; he also oversees men's ministry. LouAnn Schutte leads children's ministry as Kids Konnect Director. Carlene Olguin directs Compassion Ministries. Angie Cambra heads the Kupuna (seniors) ministry. Cheryllyn Koki leads Women's Ministry.
Rooted Youth and Kids Konnect
Young people have a clear place at Paradise Chapel. Rooted Youth meets on Tuesday evenings on campus, led by Pastors Lenson and Kanoe Kaaloa. The ministry exists to anchor teenagers in their faith and give them a community of their own. Children meet through Kids Konnect during the Sunday service. The children's team uses Bible stories, worship, and creative activities to help kids grow stronger in their relationship with God. The church takes seriously the safety of every child, requiring all volunteers who work with Kids Konnect to clear a background check.
Kupuna, Men, and Women
Adults at every stage of life are organized into three overlapping ministries. The Kupuna Ministry serves the kupuna, or senior adults, of the church, coordinating events and encouragement led by Angie Cambra and Doreen Jona. The Men's Ministry, directed by Pastor Lenson Kaaloa, gathers men around Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend," calling them to make promises that last a lifetime to Jesus Christ, their families, and to one another. The Women's Ministry, led by Cheryllyn Koki, hosts the annual Women of Worth (WOW) conference and draws its inspiration from Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."
Stephen Ministry: One-to-One Christian Care
For people in the congregation or community who are working through grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or another life crisis, Paradise Chapel offers Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to provide high-quality, confidential, one-to-one Christian care. Each Stephen Minister meets with one care receiver at a time, usually once a week for about an hour, and the team gathers once a month with Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education. Men are paired with men and women with women, and when a person's needs exceed what a Stephen Minister can provide, the team makes an appropriate referral. Care is coordinated through Carlene Olguin at the church office.
Compassion Ministries: Feeding Waianae and Beyond
Compassion is one of the four pillars of the church's mission, and the Compassion Ministries team puts it into weekly practice. The Food Pantry operates every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. out of Paradise Chapel's Education Center; an ID is required. On Sundays, the team brings a Civic Center Outreach to the community in the afternoon hours on scheduled dates throughout the year. On the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., volunteers visit a local nursing home. The ministry also partners with the Special Olympics and leads a Thanksgiving outreach at Maili Land during the holiday season. Anyone interested in joining this outreach can contact Carlene Olguin through the church office.
What Paradise Chapel Believes
Paradise Chapel holds to the Sixteen Statements of Fundamental Truth of the Assemblies of God. The church teaches that the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired, infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct; that the one true God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Jesus Christ was virgin-born, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died as a substitute on the cross, rose bodily from the dead, and is exalted at the right hand of God. The congregation affirms that humanity fell through voluntary transgression and that salvation comes only through the shed blood of Jesus. Two ordinances are observed: water baptism by immersion and holy communion. The church teaches a distinct experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues as the initial physical evidence, and affirms divine healing as part of the atonement. The Statement of Faith also includes sanctification, the mission of the Church, the blessed hope of the resurrection and rapture, the millennial reign of Christ, the final judgment, and the promise of new heavens and a new earth.
Mission, Worship, and Discipleship
Everything at Paradise Chapel is filtered through four mission verbs: Evangelize the Lost, Worship God, Disciple Believers, and Show Compassion. Each program, plan, and idea is processed through that lens. The church also lists four values that shape Sunday mornings: Celebration ("God's not boring. He is an Amazing Wonderful Miracle Working God!"), Inspiration (the Holy Spirit moves mightily here), Preparation (the Word of God is true, and building people up is important), and Salvation (everyone deserves the opportunity to know Jesus as Lord and Savior).
Staying Connected Through the Week
Beyond in-person life, the church runs a full digital front door. Sunday services stream live on YouTube at 9:00 a.m. and are archived for later viewing. The Church Center app, available on iOS and Android, gives members and visitors a calendar of events, online registration, a directory, and a way to fill out Connect Cards or sign up for conferences such as the Women of Worth gathering and the Young Adults Conference. Subsplash provides a secure online giving portal, with options for one-time and recurring gifts; donations can also be mailed to the church's PO Box or dropped off in person on Sunday mornings between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Members and regular attenders can request a free Right Now Media account, giving them access to a large library of Bible study videos, kids' content, and small-group curriculum. Visitors with prayer needs can submit a request online or contact the prayer team directly.