Born and raised in Alameda, California, Jade-Len Makana Kaʻanoaliʻi Taimalietane Iulio is an internationally award-winning Polynesian dancer, cultural practitioner, teacher, and community leader. Of Hawaiian, Samoan, and Filipino ancestry, Makana has dedicated her life to preserving and perpetuating the cultural traditions of the Pacific through dance, education, storytelling, and community engagement.

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Makana began dancing hula and ʻori Tahiti in early childhood under the guidance of her mother, the late Kumu Hula Lani Cid-Iulio, founder of Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center. Raised within the hālau, she developed a profound appreciation for the traditions, values, protocols, and kuleana that accompany Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural arts—principles that continue to guide both her life and her leadership.

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She attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she majored in Business, combining her passion for visual storytelling with her commitment to sharing the history, beauty, and cultural richness of the Pacific Islands. Her work reflects a belief that stories—whether told through dance or film—have the power to educate, inspire, and preserve culture for future generations.

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For more than 14 years, Makana has taught Hawaiian and Polynesian dance throughout Alameda and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Her journey has taken her around the world to study, perform, teach, compete, and learn alongside respected cultural practitioners and master artists. Although she has received international recognition for her accomplishments, she considers her greatest achievement to be remaining a forever student, continually seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and honor the traditions entrusted to her.​

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In March 2026, following the passing of her beloved mother, Makana stepped into the role of Executive Director of Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center, continuing the legacy her mother established in 1998. Today, she leads the organization with humility and purpose while carrying forward its mission of preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural arts through education, performance, and community.