Ku’uwehilani (Lani) Cid-Iulio, beloved Kumu Hula, Hawaiian culture keeper, and founder of Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Center [1] in Alameda, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, surrounded by love and the presence of her ‘ohana.
[2]As a Kumu Hula, she not only served as a master teacher of hula dance, but as a guardian of Hawaiian culture, language, and tradition. Through teaching, performances, and community gatherings, Kumu Lani helped bring the beauty and meaning of hula to a wider audience, while remaining deeply respectful of the traditions she represented. Her work helped preserve and hand down the rich cultural traditions of Hawai’i to students and audiences alike. Under her guidance, Hālau Makana grew into more than a place of instruction. It became a community centered in aloha and a shared commitment to honoring Hawaiian heritage. Her dedication ensured that the knowledge entrusted to her would continue to live on through the generations she taught.
Her students lovingly remember her as a dedicated mentor who believed that the performance of hula was far more than entertainment. It embodied the oral tradition of storytelling, history, and at times even prayer expressed through movement. Tributes posted on Hālau Makana’s social media pages reflect her students’ love and respect for their Kumu. Her classes emphasized discipline and respect for cultural traditions and values. Many of her students describe the hālau as a second family and credit Kumu Lani’s profound influence in their lives. They expressed gratitude, not only for the gift of dance, but also for the spirit of aloha that uplifted the community she built at the hālau. Her gentle guidance and warm, welcoming presence will be missed.
Kumu Lani was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Iose Iulio, and her father Joe Cid. She is survived by her mother, Lilian Aquai-Cid; her children Jared Iulio, Jasmine Iulio, and Jade Makana Iulio; her son-in-law Treyvon Williams; her grandson Makoa Williams; and her brother Brian Cid and his wife Nilza.
Kumu Lani was born on October 5, 1957, and raised in Guam but grew up visiting her grandmother, Lillian Mahai’ula Aquai, in Hilo, Hawaii. These visits served as the spark that lit her entire hula journey. She viewed the gift of performing and teaching hula as both a privilege and a responsibility, passed down to her through generations of cultural practice. She founded Hālau Makana in 1998, following in her grandmother’s footsteps, by dedicating her life to studying and teaching hula and honoring Hawaiian culture through her everyday work. Her unique way of leading, not only with aloha, but with the purest and kindest heart, inspired so many in her community.
A memorial service and reception for Kumu Lani will be held on Saturday, March 28, at Cavalry Christian Center beginning at 4pm. On Sunday, March 29, the community is invited to a public Kanikapila Celebration of Life honoring Kumu Lani. The kanikapila (a gathering filled with music, singing, and dancing) will be held at Mastick Community Center’s Social Hall, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue, beginning at 3 p.m. Please visit the Hālau Makana [1] website for further details if you’re interested in attending, assisting in, and/or supporting this event.
In Hawaiian cultural tradition, the knowledge of hula is often passed through lineage and mentorship. The continuation of a hālau after the passing of a kumu represents the living nature of the tradition. At Hālau Makana, that legacy will continue through Kumu Lani’s daughter, Jade Makana Iulio, who will assume the role of Kumu Hula and guide the next chapter of Hālau Makana’s journey. The legacy and spirit of Kumu Lani will continue to live wherever students of Halau Makana gather to dance.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hālau Makana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, to support its mission of “preserving the Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori cultures through dance, art, and music and to share these cultural art forms with anyone who has a desire to learn.”
E ho’omaha malie, e Kumu. A hui ho. Ke Akua pu.
(Rest peacefully Kumu. Until we meet again. God be with you.)