Where Echoes Ring: Kalikar and Kristine de Brum’s Return to Lāna‘i

By Anthony Kaauamo

Kristine, Kali, and Kyrie Lei de Brum; Kali is the son of Karen and Martin de Brum, and brother to Karina and Emma. Kristine is the daughter of Florencia Llamelo and Efren Elan, and sister to Darwin, JV, Spencer and Zion.

“Where Echoes Ring” shares the stories of Lāna‘ians who, after periods spent away, have returned to the island, as well as those who chose to remain. Each individual’s story is a note in the composition of this community, collectively defining the identity of Lāna‘i.

Kalikar de Brum: The ending of junior year is when we started to actually talk, but as my senior year began, our conversations grew more frequent. Things really took off around Christmas 2014.

Interviewer: Who was crushing on who first, though?

Kristine Elan de Brum: He was crushing on me.

Kalikar de Brum: We both say that about each other.

Kristine Elan de Brum: I think it was mutual, 50/50.

Kalikar de Brum: We could go back and forth on this all day.

Kristine Elan de Brum: During his senior year, we were in the same weight training class. He'd occasionally come over to show me how to do a workout. Before that, our interactions were pretty limited, maybe just a “Hey” or “Hi” on campus. But in that class, he was more direct, like, “This is how you do it. This is how you do that." It was pretty clear he liked me.

Kalikar de Brum: Well, you’re leaving out the fact that we were having virtual conversations on Instagram and Snapchat. So, I say she was crushing on me because I wasn't flirty, but I did talk to a few different girls, and she was the only one who would respond to my messages consistently.

Their relationship, seeded from these initial exchanges and blossoming toward a shared future, was rooted in their distinct experiences growing up on Lāna‘i.

Kali’s childhood on Lāna‘i was marked by summer and winter travels to the East Coast to visit family. Unlike many of his peers who hadn’t traveled far from the island until later in life, Kali experienced both the insular life of Lāna‘i and the broader world beyond it from a young age. This duality fostered a deeper appreciation for his island home, a sentiment not commonly shared by many of his peers who longed to leave permanently. 

His experiences away enriched his sense of connection.

Kristine’s experience growing up on Lāna‘i contrasted with Kali’s. With little travel experience in her early years, her eagerness to explore life beyond the island was strong. Her dedication to high school basketball became a vehicle for pursuing opportunities away from Lāna‘i after graduation.

Leaving Lāna‘i

Kali graduated from LHES in 2015 and started his higher education in California at the University of San Diego (USD), pursuing a B.S./B.A. degree in General Engineering, with an emphasis on Embedded Software.

Kristine, a 2016 LHES graduate, ventured far from home to attend Missouri Valley College. Her enthusiasm for making the big move was gradually replaced with unexpected isolation and homesickness. “It was rough, because I left for Missouri without hesitation and didn’t know anyone. I was basically the only islander there, which made me feel pretty lonely,” she said. Being one of the few Asians on campus, she found it difficult to fit in. “I was friends with some basketball girls, but they had their own group, so I was mostly on the side,” she said of the stark difference between her initial expectations and the reality of life so far away.

Kristine found solace in cooking, which became a comforting link to Lāna‘i. In Missouri, she often prepared rice, a staple in her (and, well… most of our) diet. “Somebody found a way to send me rice, so I always had rice,” she said. This simple act was a tangible tie to her cultural identity. Later, after transferring to Everett Community College in Washington, and then moving to San Diego in 2018, her culinary journey continued with Filipino dishes including lauya and adobo, sharing her heritage with roommates. Ironically, it was in these distant places that her cooking not only bridged the gap she had felt toward Lāna‘i but also deepened her appreciation and connection to her Filipino roots.

Returning to Lāna‘i

After graduating from the USD in 2019, Kali began his career at Clarity Design, Inc., where he had interned during college. Specializing in embedded software engineering, he develops code for circuit boards in devices without traditional operating systems. Although his five-year plan initially called for remaining in San Diego, which provided an environment rich with opportunity for career growth, Kali and Kristine’s engagement in 2021 coupled with the opportunity for him to work remotely prompted them to consider moving back to Lāna‘i sooner. “I really missed my family. I was always calling them, asking about Lāna‘i, and realized I wanted to go back home,” Kristine reflected.

The couple returned to the island in 2022, celebrated their marriage, and welcomed their daughter, Kyrie Lei, in September 2023. Settling back into life on Lāna‘i, they discussed the importance of raising their family there. Kali, recalling his high school experiences in larger cities, emphasized the safety and community feel of Lāna‘i. “It was already in my mind that I’d raise my kids here,” he said.

Now back on Lāna‘i, Kali and Kristine are embracing parenthood and the echoes of their past. Kristine, once indifferent to her parents’ advice, now actively seeks their guidance in raising Kyrie Lei. “I want her to have a cultural island Filipino experience.”

Kali, deeply involved in the community, serves on the Hulopo‘e Beach Park Council and coaches wrestling at Lāna‘i High & Elementary School. Despite his best efforts not to, he finds himself repeating his former coach Alan Sanchez’s words, “half, half, turn, turn!” during matches, a refrain he and his teammates used to mock.

The decision to return to Lāna‘i was deeply influenced by their experiences and the strong pull of their community. For Kalikar, working remotely for Clarity Design, Inc. offered a balance between professional growth and contributing to the island he loves. Kristine’s return brought her closer to her family and her roots. Reflecting on this, Kali shares, “I feel like, growing up here, we really gained a lot from what everybody in the community did. Now, it’s our turn to contribute, to be a part of that cycle. This way, when the next generation comes up, they’ll also reap the benefits of what we’ve done, just like we did.”