Sharing our Miss Hawai'i with the world

Dear Miss America 2001, Angela Perez Baraquio!

On behalf of Francis Camera Shop, Inc. of Hawai'i and our entire staff, I would like to sincerely congratulate you on being chosen as Miss Hawai'i and then as our new Miss America 2001! We truly appreciate the tremendous amount of time, energy, and resources that you, your family, and associates have committed towards these spectacular achievements.

Singer Don Ho and Angela Perez Baraquio Francis Camera Shop

Angie, we are very proud and honored to have you representing Hawai'i and we look forward to all that you have to share, especially with the young people, in the upcoming year of your reign as Miss America. Your focus on "character development" as a curriculum in the schools was like a light bulb being turned on for us.

I must tell you though, we are a little disappointed (in a selfish way), that we in Hawai'i will not have you all to ourselves. As our very own Miss Hawai'i you would have had plenty of time to attend events, like Don Ho's recent birthday celebration (photo attached), but now we will have to share much too much of your time with the rest of the people of the world. Just kidding!!!

Mahalo nui loa,
Danny W. Black
General Manager


Proud friends from the old days

Angela,

Congratulations on winning Miss America! My sisters and I attended Maryknoll
Grade School with your brother John and sister Lucy back in the old days. I told my sisters who now reside in Germany and Virginia on your win and they were extremely proud of you! We all live away from Hawai'i now, but still represent the Aloha spirit out here.

A lot of aloha to you and your family!
-Mitchell Mark (Santa Clara, Calif.)


Beauty, brains and a mean boogie

I must say that working with Angela over the past few months has been one of
my most pleasurable experiences. She is an amazingly gifted young woman from the heart. Her spirit is genuine and she truly does walk her talk. Angela is natural about her beauty and she will represent our state and our country as Miss America with her honest integrity. I am so proud of her! I applaud the judges of the Miss Hawai'i and Miss America Pageant for seeing more than just a pretty picture. Angela is a great role model to all and there will be much to learn from her as we watch her rein as Miss America.

Lisa Schienle
MonaLisa Designs Inc.
The Official Gown Sponsor of the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant

P.S. and she has a "mean" boogie on the dance floor!


Excellent basketball player, too

My name is Wendell Daniels and I am in the United States Air Force. I was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base from 1991 to 1995. I officiate high school basketball and that's where I met Angela (Miss America). Her specialty was defense....outstanding defender. She was an excellent basketball player, but an even better people-person. As a freshman at the University of Hawai'i, she worked as a student usher at the arena during Wahine basketball games. I officiated college basketball games when UH women's team was in the Big West Conference. During that time I used to talk to Angela about trying out for the Wahine basketball team. I thought she had the talent. That would bring a smile to her face. We became good conversation buddies after that. I am so proud of her accomplishments because she spoke of doing "special things in the future." It's doesn't get any better than this! You go girl! Many congrats.

Wendell Daniels
United States Air Force


Best tourist attraction

Congratulations, Miss America!
I am so proud to see one of Hawaii's best tourist attractions, its people, become Miss America. You exemplify everything that is great about Hawai'i and I will always return to visit there. I may live in San Francisco but my heart is left in Hawaii,

Aloha and way to go,
Martin Fellesom
San Fransico, Calif.


Carry that spirit during reign

Congratulations, Angela, on becoming our wonderful new Miss America 2001!!

You deserve it!! I am sure we are all proud of you! And we know you will carry that wonderful, sweet personality and spirit of aloha wherever you go during your reign!

David Greene, Kaiser Permanente
Sa'e Lilio, Physicians Exchange of Honolulu


Doing our cultures proud

Seeing Miss Hawai'i win the Miss America crown made us so proud. We're from Hawai'i, now living in the mainland and of Filipino ancestry. Congratulations, Angela. Your intelligence and sunny personality does our cultures - both Filipino and Hawaiian - proud! You will represent our country well.

Rose Robinson
Los Angeles


Hawaii's outstanding ambassador

Angela, congratulations and well done!

We know you will be an outstanding ambassador for Hawaii and America.

Jon & Arsenia Jacques
Honolulu


Intensive hula practices paid off

Angie,

FABULOUS!!!!!

I want to wish you the best with your new title. I know that you will do an excellent job with sharing the true meaning of "ALOHA"....and as "Miss America."

I pray that God will always protect you and that he will always walk with you as you journey through your mission...I am so proud of you for doing an "awesome" job with the hula. It gives me with great honor and blessing to say that my love for the hula lives within you...All of those intensive rehearsals and practices with you will be many memorable moments that I will always cherish.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your victory.

I can't wait for your return to Hawai'i.....=)

e malama pono, a hui hou...me ke aloha pumehana

Kala Gongob


Inner beauty showed through

I was impressed with the inner beauty of Miss America. I'm a Christian and with emphasize the inner beauty of people. I saw her on Dave Letterman and was most impressed with her.

Please don't change. Don't let this crown change her.

Kenneth M. Thomas


Old friend knew she was special

Dear Angie,

Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!

I guess I'm not really surprised - I knew since we were little rugrats at Maryknoll that our little "An Go Bo" was a very special person. Now the rest of America knows!

My goodness, you're going to have such an awesome year. Don't forget to sleep once in a while!

Good luck and God Bless,

Anthony Fo


Shaka sign the best part

Congratulations, Angela!!!

I have always been a fan of watching pageants on television, unfortunately, I missed this one. However, when I heard the great news about Hawai'i taking it, it was awesome. You are awesome, you represent Hawai'i. The shaka was the best, Hawaiian-style.

Best wishes to your mom,

Aloha
Brenda Souza


A wonderful accomplishment

Congratulations, Miss Hawai'i/Miss America 2000. Thank you for your perseverance. My nephew, Au, attends the Holy Family Academy in Honolulu and like us he is excited about your wonderful accomplishment. Earlier this year, he competed on a T-ball team and his Dad (my brother-in-law) was instructing him on how to hold the bat. He protested and said, "Dad! Miss Baraquio said to do it like THIS!" Needless to say he was the best hitter on the team. May you travel around the country and have this same positive influence on our young children. With your emphasis on character education, they too will be successful and say, "Miss Baraquio says to do it like this!"

God Bless You!
Elizabeth Malae Edmonds



Well-wishes from a summer school classmate

Back in August, Angela was signing autographs in the Mamo Howell store at Ward Warehouse. Little did I know that when I had asked her to sign an autographed picture for my 19-month-old daughter would she be able to recognize me. I sat next to her in a summer school class at Moanalua High about ten years ago and she remembered that. I was so flattered by this.

For someone like her who probably has a million and one things on her mind to remember someone like me is touching. Now she has become a celebrity -- to the people of Hawai'i and to our nation. I just wanted to wish her well in her upcoming year as the reigning MISS AMERICA. I was so ecstatic when they
announced your name as the winner! Congratulations, Angie. You go girl!!!

Love always,
Jessica (Medeiros) Ashley