Jack Dacey of No Ka Oi Place, near the Hindu Temple in the Wailua Homesteads, is the May 2009 winner of the “Front Yard Pride” award given by the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association. Dacey’s home is above the 100-foot waterfall of
Jack Dacey of No Ka Oi Place, near the Hindu Temple in the Wailua Homesteads, is the May 2009 winner of the “Front Yard Pride” award given by the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association.
Dacey’s home is above the 100-foot waterfall of Wailua River’s north fork. All he hears is the waterfall and birds in the trees. Just two-miles from “Jurassic Park” he can visualize dinosaurs in his jungle.
Dacey moved to Kaua‘i in 2000 after retiring from a career with United Parcel Service in San Francisco. He built his home in 2001 and then landscaped with free forms and curves. He planted stemadina, blue ginger, plumerias and gardenias with the intent of the wind blowing the frangrances through the house.
This passionate gardener works at least 12 hours a week on his property. As a year-round gardener, he’s already preparing his second crop of green beans. For a non-pesticide garden he plants lots of onions and peppers to discourage unwanted pests and has at least 15 pounds of edible ginger each year plus Okinawa spinach, 200 pineapples and African basil.
From August to April Dacey works for the school system helping “at risk kids” get diplomas and job skills. An avid traveler, Dacey has visited 54 countries — his most recent, Costa Rica.
Dacey received his plaque Saturday at the Kapa‘a Library. The monthly Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association meeting is held the fourth Saturday of the month and is open to the public. The May speaker was John Harder of Zero Waste Kaua‘i.
To nominate yourself or a neighbor for the “Front Yard Pride” award call chairperson Helena Cooney, 822-1885 or e-mail Helena1824@AOL.com. The only rules are the home has to be in the 96746 zip code and the resident must do the work themselves.
