My grandfather lived in Paola for a few years before he came to the US. I never heard it referred to that way but the local dialect pronounces it similar to Pabola.
My grandfather's naturalization papers listed his place of birth as Parantoro (which was horribly misspelled) which was not the town name but the hamlet name. Paotela may be a hamlet or frosinone. If the document listed Cosenza Province at least you have an area to search. Did it? Did you ever find his ship manifest?
The locals are Paolani. Here is Paola's official website:
www.comune.paola.cs.it/