Courtney Tagawa radiated sweetness and beauty as she stood offstage at the Kapi'olani Bandstand yesterday, waiting to perform with her fellow Leilani Alama Hula Studio students.

Asked her age, Courtney held up five fingers. It was her first public performance, but she appeared to be at ease.

Ka'iulani Kauahi, who directs the two-day Na Hula festival for the Department of Parks and Recreation, called the event ideal for halau and young students like Courtney because there is no pressure to compete.

"It's very relaxing," Kauahi said. "We have all generations performing — grandmothers, mothers and granddaughters."

Auntie Leilani Alama and her sister, Auntie Puanani Alama, who also has a hula studio, are the only two kumu hula who have performed at every one of the 69 annual Na Hula festivals, said their niece, Te Moana Makolo, who is also a hula performer and teacher.

The sisters have danced since childhood and played the hula circuit in Waikiki, throughout the Islands and abroad.

Auntie Leilani began teaching hula in 1942. "We try to teach from the inside," she said, placing her hands on her chest, "from the inside of the heart, the aloha spirit. We use the heavens, the moon, the forest, the ocean, the flowers, all to tell the story of how we feel, all in the movement of the hands."

More than 400 people performed over the two days of the festival, the state's longest-running, non-competitive hula event. About 1,000 people attended.

Beneath various awnings, performers preparing to take the stage were being draped with flowers, adorned with hair spray, lipstick, mascara and eye shadow.

Emma Jenny of Hau'ula, all dolled up, was ready.

Emma, who attends Kamehameha Schools, has studied hula for five years, half her life. "It's good for Hawaiian culture to be known, to be done," she said.

"Hula tells a story and you express your feelings — lots of feelings — happiness, love, compassion."

On stage, graceful dancers swayed through "Aloha Ia Kane'ohe," a song about a lady describing the beauty of her Kane'ohe home and how she welcomed her visitors with love.

One of the dancers was Elsie Sato of Manoa, who got a late start in hula, not taking it up until the age of 62. That was 27 years ago and she feels like she's still learning.

"I'm goofing it up sometimes," she said, catching her breath after the performance.

Oh no, said the ladies who danced with her. She was splendid.

"It's good therapy for my mind and my body," Sato said. "I learn to bring out my feelings. It brings people joy, that's what you're here for ... to give love to the audience."