Peace and tranquility come at no extra charge for clients of Custom Landscaping’s hand-crafted ponds.

Also called water features, the customized ponds offer a piece of nature for the home or office.

The Wailua-based family business is run by Bruce Horka, a 36-year Kaua‘i resident, and sons Tairoy, 23, and Travis, 26. Custom Landscaping has been around for 26 years and working with water features for about 15.

Horka, who used to own a restaurant on-island, said he is self-taught when it comes to the ponds. After more than a decade of perfecting the technique, the business boasts a completely individualized product for each customer.

“Every (pond) has a unique look to it,” Horka said. “It’s kind of like an artist’s drawing.”

According to Tairoy Horka, the company does not use standardized molds or models.

“If someone wanted me to make it look the same (as another design), I don’t think I could,” he said.

Horka has three ponds at his Wailua home, one of which surrounds the pool and blends in with the canyon abutting his backyard.

Water flows from two points on opposite sides, navigating the rocks and plants as it makes it way into the crystal blue pool, filtering it along the way.

A medium-size pond, blending in with the surrounding landscaping, greets guests at the front of the home. Still another pond, the smallest of the three, is located on the side of the house

In each pond — camouflaged amongst the ferns, lily pads, koi fish and lava rock — is a concrete base designed with custom coloring and markings to blend right in with the real stuff.

Horka said his team uses a “stamp,” or sheet with indentations, and dyes to shape the concrete and re-create a stone look. Down to every last scratch, bump and curve, attention to detail is evident when trying to decipher the carefully positioned real lava rocks from the faux stone — a task that becomes more difficult with time.

Travis Horka said the water features look better — more worn and natural — with age. As moss starts to grow and the surrounding plants fill it, the ponds take on an increasingly life-like appearance.

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