St. Peter's Leadership

​Clergy

Pr. Ruth Peterson, Priest-In-Charge
​In January of 2025, I was so warmly welcomed as St. Peter's new Priest in Charge. My journey to St. Peter’s began with ordination as a Lutheran Pastor in 1991, and since then, I've had the joy of serving wonderful Lutheran congregations in California, Nevada, and here in Hawaii, as well as working as a Chaplain in health care.  A Bay Area native, my ministry has led me to serve vibrant communities in Stockton, Reno, and Pearl City, but I've now been blessed to call Oahu home for over 20 years. I'm incredibly excited to serve the Epsicopal Diocese of Hawaii and our St. Peter's ohana with all my heart.

​Vestry

Executive Committee (Vestry clerk also part of the executive committee)

Stephanie Vlachos, Senior Warden
Our family's attendance at St. Peter's started generations ago with my maternal grandfather's family.  As a young teenager I became more involved with St. Peter's through the years with youth group activities, which also included acolyting.  
Some years later I then gained Vestry and search committee experience.  Now, after years of being a CEO attendee (Christmas/Easter only), I am glad to be able to offer help with various behind-the-scenes ongoings at St. Peter's, with aloha!
Chucky Nakoa, Junior Warden
My legal name is Douglas Charles Nakoa. My family went to Kawaiahaʻo Church for generations. As the older generations passed, my wife and I attended St. Andrew's Cathedral. God was always present. Sandy my wife and I would attend New Hope Church, One Love Church and St. Andrew's Cathedral.  Sandy passed in 2016 and One Hope became my main church in 2010. When COVID hit, I went online, however I felt different.
I saw Manny in the weight room at ʻIolani and we were talking about church.  I asked about Pr. Diane Martinson and Manny invited me to come to church at St. Peter's. I believe it was the fall of 2021.  I love it here because I went to ʻIolani and teach there as well I am very familiar with the service. My two sons also attended ʻIolani. The music at St. Peter's is a gift from God.
I enjoy working out, playing music and writing songs.  I wrote a song that comes from Galatians 5:22, the fruits of the spirit "We'll Be As One". 
Nancy Rowe, Treasurer
I am a ten or so year member of St. Peter's. in addition to serving as treasurer, I enjoy being a participant in the knitting group (K2P2) and Jazz Vespers.  I am also a member of the altar guild.  I attend the 7:30 a.m. service.
​Leila Diamond - Clerk (term expires 2026)

Leila Diamond and her husband, Peter, were married at The Cathedral of St. Andrew’s and have a son who is currently in aviation training in San Diego. They were drawn to St. Peter’s by a friend and have attended the 10am service ever since. Both are active in St. Peter’s weekly Zoom Bible Study. She is a former advertising executive and has been active in various community organizations.  Leila enjoys Sogetsu ikebana, landscape photography, and adventure travel.

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Term expires 2026:
​​Paul “Hal” Halvorson
​My father was a Lutheran pastor and my mother was the daughter of a Lutheran pastor. So I grew up filling many roles in the church, everything from shoveling snow from the sidewalks before worship in Rochester, NY and setting up folding chairs for a church gathering near Cleveland, OH, to serving on church councils and committees in Chicago and here in Honolulu. 

I met my wife Lisa, a Priory graduate, in Chicago after college. She soon persuaded me to move to Hawaii where we raised two sons.  Now we have two grandchildren here and one in Seattle (soon to be two!). They keep us very enjoyably busy! 

I worked in Information Technology for many years for the Judiciary of the State of Hawaii. Now I serve on the live streaming team and as a Eucharistic Minister.​
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Bryant “Beez” Zane

St. Peter's is Beez's family church.  His great-grandparents were the Zanes' who were founding memebers. His grandmother attended regularly into the 1980s. His parents were married at St. Peter's and Beez and his brother were baptized at St. Peter's in 1979 by Fr. Chun. He was later confirmed by Bishop Hart in 1988. Beez began reconnecting with St. Peter's through the live-stream and began attending in person at the start of 2023. He now teaches the Children's Christian Formation program with Chucky Nakoa.
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Beez attended ʻIolani School for 13 years and is now a District Court judge. He works down the street from St. Peter’s. Beez has one son, William, who is in the 4th grade.

Term Expires 2027:

Beth Cox
My husband and I have been members of St. Peter’s Church since 2014. I was baptized at St. Clement’s Church in 2011 having been raised in the Jewish faith. I am retired from the Salvation Army Family Treatment Services, Women’s Way (a women and children’s residential substance abuse facility) where I was the Admissions and Assessment Coordinator for 20 years. Except for college and graduate school on the Mainland, I have lived in Hawaii since I was 16 years old.
Suzanne Kagawa
After 27 1/2 years of working for Oceanic Time Warner Cable , functioning as a Bookkeeper/Accountant, I was fortunate to just “retire” in the midst of a corporate restructure. I am a cradle Episcopalian and a recent member of St. Peter’s. I’m happy to work in the background! I am a lost soul who has finally found a wonderful spiritual home.   I have found St. Peter’s to be warm, accepting, financially healthy, wonderful music program and last but not least outstanding Priests.  I appreciate Pastor Ruth's leadership and meaningful sermons!
Stephanie Wight
Grandmothering, sewing, singing, doing crafty things, and reading make me happy.  I enjoy opportunities to integrate these (limited) skills as I strive to live my life as a faithful being and to share our salvation message.  I am grateful to have served God and my fellow members of St. Peter's the past few years on the Vestry.  It illustrates that anyone, even me, can serve God and this community of believers.

Term Expires 2028:

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Gail Haruki
I have been attending the 10:00 a.m. service here at St Peter’s Episcopal Church since 2016.  I am a baptized and confirmed  Episcopalian and grew up on Kauai.  I am currently involved in the Refreshment, Eucharistic Ministry, Eucharistic Visits, Garden, Fellowship, and occasionally in offering ministries. 

I love to travel, play Mah Jong, and totally enjoy traveling to Japan. I have been blessed with an opportunity to visit the Holy Land three times, – once with St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Upland California in 2012 as a pilgrim, in 2019 on an educational tour and again in 2023 with All Saints Episcopal church.  All journeys provided very different and memorable experiences. I recently returned from a pilgrimage to Assisi, Sicily and Rome with St Marks Episcopal Church in April 2026. 
 
I served on St Peter’s vestry in 2020:-2022 and it provided me with opportunity to learn more about its ministry to the members as well as those in our community.  I look forward to serving again for another term under Pastor Ruth and the new team  as we continue to discuss the concerns and interests of our church. 
 
The blessing that Pastor Jazzy shared when she was with us on Sundays is most meaningful to me:  Life is short, and we have too little time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the journey with us. So be quick to be kind, make haste to love, and may the blessing of God Almighty, who Creates, Redeems, and Sustains, be with you this day and remain with you always. Amen
Lori Yee
I am a lifelong member of St. Peter’s, and am part of the Pang family, who have attended the church for three generations.  My husband Clint and I were married at St. Peter’s and our two daughters were baptized here as well.  I have been helping to organize and serve with the coffee hour ministry for almost 10 years.


St. Peter's Episcopal Church