Born in Sydney, Pakeho's New Zealand-born parents took their young family to the Waikato when he was two. At eight, he returned to Brisbane. His first junior rugby club in Brisbane was the Pine Rivers Pumas in 2014. Pakeho attended Anglican Church Grammar School for Years 11 and 12 where he played rugby for their first XV. He was a member of the Queensland academy and plays his club rugby for Brothers.