A beautifully landscaped yard in Kapahi has garnered special recognition for its owner. Elsie Huddy is the first recipient of the Neighborhood Pride Award, sponsored by the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association. She received her framed certificate at the association’s monthly general
A beautifully landscaped yard in Kapahi has garnered special recognition for its owner.
Elsie Huddy is the first recipient of the Neighborhood Pride Award, sponsored by the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association. She received her framed certificate at the association’s monthly general meeting at Wailua Homesteads park pavilion last month.
The Huddy’s yard has a long history behind it. Born in Germany, Elsie met and married her husband Bill while he was stationed there and the newlyweds moved to Kaua‘i in 1946. For 57 years, the house at 6008 Kawaihau Rd. has been the Huddys’ home and, until his death six years ago, Bill and Elsie worked together on making their yard a showplace.
Today, at the age of 92, Elsie continues to maintain the immaculate 1/3-acre property herself, except for the help of a man who comes in to cut the grass.
“I cannot sit all day in the house doing nothing,” she said.
Neighbors contend Elsie Huddy is in her yard from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. although she says she actually puts in about three hours in her yard daily cutting bushes, pulling weeds and “moving plants around.”
She is proud of the recognition but surprised as well. “I didn’t think I would receive the award.” Her yard actually looks its best in the Spring, she said. There aren’t many blossoms such as anthuriums at this time of year, “but it’s still nice and I try to keep up.”
The Neighborhood Pride award was the idea of association member Helena Cooney, who said she was looking for something positive for the group to do when she came up with the beautification award.
“I sent e-mails to all my friends who live in the area and told them what I was doing,” she said. Among the responses she received was one from Amanda Wehrly nominating Elsie Huddy.
Cooney said Mrs. Huddy was a perfect choice for the first Neighborhood Pride award. “There is not a blade of grass out of place” in Elsie’s yard,” she said.
The committee is seeking more nominations for beautiful front yards in the 96746 zip code area. Suggestions can be e-mailed to Helena1824@AOL.com or call 822-1885. The present criteria is that the homeowner themselves must do the work. Professionally landscaped yards will not be considered by the committee.
The Wailua-Kapaa Homeowners Association was started nearly a year ago. The group meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of every month at Wailua Homesteads Park. Recent guest speakers have included Thomas Kaiakapu of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources who spoke on the issue of wild pigs on Nonou mountain, Jimmy Trujillo, who spoke on solid waste management, and Sen. Gary Hooser, who spoke on Advocacy 101.
