Lani Cid-Iulio is the owner of Island Hawaiian Studios and Director of the Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) corporation. 

Her Hula, Tahitian and Maori dance foundation started with her kūpunawahine (grandmother), Lillian Ka’anoali’i Mahai’ula Aquai (born and raised in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawai’i, and received her formal hula training from Kumu Hula Rose Kuamo’o). She also studied, performed and competed with Kumu Hula Joseph Kamoha'i Kahaulelio in Hayward, CA, and Kumu Hula Mahea Uchiyama in Berkeley, CA.