Malia B.

I feel incredibly privileged to have spent the time I did with Kai at UBC. What started in November 2020 as a conversation overlooking the OC courtyard, talking about our future aspirations, somehow unfolded into pulling an all-nighter for 298 in 2021; running out of Woodward to celebrate 371 being cancelled with a mini snowball fight in 2022; “light trespassing” around ocean properties and proposing business ideas while walking from Robson to Canada Place in 2023; and, in 2024, rubbing a Buddha statue’s belly in Chinatown, going to a rave, visiting MUDEC, and searching for his friend’s graffiti tag in Milan. There are also so many study room memories over those three years that they all blend together, all culminating in our graduation in 2025.

Learning about Kai’s passing was devastating. After reflecting on all of these memories, I felt it was important to use this tribute to thank him.

So, thank you, Kai, for teaching me about skiing on sand dunes instead of studying Black-Scholes (you still aced every exam). Thank you for explaining the nuances of graffiti rivalry (I am now happily reminded of you whenever I see street art). Thank you for making being trapped in those mundane white walls infinitely more interesting. And thank you for being a great friend when I needed it most.

Last but not least, thank you for being both complex and simple in a way that every beautiful tribute I have read has captured so perfectly: complex in your thoughts and perspectives, but simple in your ability to find and share happiness and adventure in every moment.

Kai was a true inspiration, and someone everyone can learn from. Rest in peace.

Note from the Moderators: The final image in the gallery below is a photo of the sunset in China on the day of Kai's Celebration of Life.