Pakalani attended secondary school at Tamaki College in New Zealand. He joined ITM Cup team Auckland in 2009 on a two-year deal. He also captained the Tongan Under 20 team at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship. In 2014 Pakalani represented at the time committing him to represent Australia only. In 2016 he was successful in an application to use a loophole in World Rugby's eligibility laws to allow him to represent Tonga and on 1 July 2017 he made his international debut for in a 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier against .