As Miss American Samoa Pauliana Felise Vitale came out of the arrival area at the airport, loud cheers rang out from the large crowd that had gathered to greet her and the team that accompanied her to the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant in the Solomon islands.
She was visibly moved with the turnout at the airport.
The First Lady, Dr. Lois Phillips-Pula was the first to give her an ula; and as a Samoan song played, Pauliana performed a siva. 
The Director of the Department of Youth and Woman Affairs, Tapumanaia Galu Satele, gave a prayer of thanksgiving that Miss American Samoa and the delegation—which included the Director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau-Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia, the President of the Miss American Samoa Incorporated- Meafou Imo and the designers, hairstylists and support staff—had returned home safely.
The First Lady said she was honored to be part of the welcoming ceremony.
Play Audiolois-welcome
(Transc.) Phillips-Pula: You know, I love the Samoan people for– for so many reasons. But when I came today and heard how beautiful you were celebrating the return of one of your daughters. It touched my spirit. It’s warm today, but not nearly as warm as the welcome. Thank you, [indiscernible] Pauliana. I want her to know, this beautiful daughter of this island, [indiscernible] proud. The message of beauty and the grace, and the spirit that she carried with– through, this competition. We’re proud of her for coming in second. We love her for all that she’s done for the time.
All of the members of Team American Samoa to the pageant were individually recognized and given ulas.
A tearful Pauliana, then, took the podium.
Play Audiopauliana-arrival
(Transc.) Vitale: I am so proud to be yours. And I am so proud to have been able to carry you all with me in my heart and with every step that I took on that stage. I had [indiscernible] every single one of you. The 49,000 plus people here [indiscernible] and the diaspora of this country. This mighty country. [Indiscernible]. And if I would do it all over again, I would walk 1000 miles in the hot of the Solomon Islands. Just to let everyone know where I am from— [indiscernible].
Mrs. Meafou Imo, after thanking the tapuaiga from home, commended Pauliana for her courage and wonderful representation of American Samoa.
She made a brief reference to the controversy surrounding the pageant saying that there was a major problem on the final night, which in due time would be made known. She said only the all knowing God knows what happened, but, from her point of view, Miss American Samoa was the clear winner.
