By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

On the first Monday of April last year, kumu hula Sallie Yoza began teaching a weekly class that opened windows for many at Shriners Hospital for Children.

Anare, a 19-year-old boy with an arthritic hip from Lautoka, Fuji, and Vila, a one-legged 15-year-old girl from Savaii, Western Samoa, were among six people present when Yoza introduced them to hula with the song "Aloha Tower." When she learned none of them had ever seen Aloha Tower, Yoza brought in photos of the landmark and told them stories about it.

"What I found out later was (Anare and Vila) were sharing what they learned with other patients, the little ones," Yoza said. "The girl told me 'even though I have (one leg), we have such a wonderful time helping others to heal, too.'

"Hula is all about values," the 38-year-old teacher said. "It's loko maika'i, sharing goodwill from within, and about laulima, working together."

The Shriners experience has enhanced her appreciation for hula, Yoza said.

Sallie Yoza, left, volunteers her time to teach hula to staff and patients at Shriners Hospital. The 38-year-old kumu hula, whose daughter is a hospital outpatient, got the idea because she wanted to give something back to the nurses and the hospital. Her classes attract patients' parents as well. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Yoza is a volunteer whose 11-year-old daughter, Pi'ilani, is an outpatient at Shriners Hospital.

Pi'ilani's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which was diagnosed 18 months ago, affects her ankles and limits her to walking with a limp. It hasn't, however, stopped her from dancing hula.

It was while her daughter was hospitalized for a week with a bone infection that Yoza got the idea to teach hula at Shriners.

"I was sitting outside late one afternoon when I saw this one nurse, Andi Kubota, who worked with Pi'ilani," Yoza said. "She was dressed to go walking. I asked her if she walked all the time and she said 'you got to to clear your mind.'

"I started thinking that it would be nice if I could teach the nurses and whoever else hula as a way of giving something back to them and the hospital," Yoza said. "The nurses work so hard and stay late. Hula is a way to relieve stress and I knew they would enjoy the storylines."

Her classes attract patients' parents as well as staff and patients.

"A lot of people do great things for Shriners but this is unusual because it's a patient's parent sharing her skills and talent with us," Shriners spokesman Duke Gonzalez said. "It's very exciting for our kids, many of whom are thousands of miles away from home, and they look forward to it."

Since she started teaching the Shriners class, Yoza has twice brought her Halau 'o Na lei 'o Kamakani to the hospital to perform.

"To me, all of this is a blessing," Yoza said. "It's unfortunate that what has happened to our children brought us together but I believe there's a reason why God does things."

Hula has been a strength for her daughter, Yoza said.

"Pi'ilani cannot run, jump or do anything physical. Hula is the only thing she can actively share with others. It keeps her spirits up and gives her strength and confidence."

Pi'ilani was stricken at age 8. Eighteen months had passed before the Yozas got in touch with an arthritic specialist, Dr. David Kurohara, who diagnosed the problem.

"Doctors are saying she can outgrow it but we're not even looking at that right now," Yoza said. "Her condition is much better than it was in the beginning."

The former Sallie Kotani grew up in Kalihi, attended McKinley High School and Honolulu Community College, and has been employed as a teacher's assistant at Kamehameha Preschool Honolulu for seven years. She and her husband, Joseph, have one other daughter, 19-year-old Shanelle.

Yoza has been dancing for 30 years. Her hula has been influenced over the years by Mahealani Poepoe, Hokulani DeRego, Kimo Kealana Alama and Rich Pedrina.

But there's something special about Yoza's first teacher — the late Charming MacDonald — that completes the circle of her hula story. "She taught from a wheelchair," Yoza said.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.