Mikol Dise – famed Cayman Kai developer dies

(CMR) Mikol Dise CEO, owner and real estate developer of the ultra-exclusive Cayman Kai Development Ltd. passed away suddenly yesterday. He started building custom homes and selling real estate from the tender age of 19-years-old and remained in the real estate sales and development business his entire life.

Dise, originally from Chicago, has lived in Cayman since 1974 and is the renowned developer of Cayman Kai. he moved here with his parents where they purchased 400 acres of undeveloped land in 1962 in the Northern tip of the island for what is now known as “Cayman Kai.” He gave it the slogan: “The Delightful Community by the Sea”, “Where the Good Life is…”.

At the time of the purchase, there was no infrastructure outside of George Town including particularly in that area of the island including on roads, electricity or water. Eventually, the 400 acres were subdivided up into parcels and developed. Initially, there was the Cayman Kai Resort which accommodated the first visitors and buyers to the area. It was the first official “office” of Cayman Kai Development Ltd.

Dise marketed his real estate product for the rich and it worked – Cayman Kai is still considered one of the island's most affluent areas with multi-million dollar properties.

An advertisement from 1982 when they were looking for investors for the Retreat Condos

Cayman Kai Development Ltd. is responsible for selling and building over 75% of the premium homes in the area including condominium complexes of The Island Houses, The Gardens of the Kai, The Sea Lodges and The Pools of the Kai.

He welcomed Queen Elizabeth II for her Royal visit to Kaibo in Cayman Kai when she traveled to the Cayman Islands in February 1983. The original dock at Kaibo was built especially for the Queen's visit to Kaibo by boat. Her Majesty then traveled by car to cut the ribbon for the Grand Opening of the Queen's Highway on the North Side and East End districts of the island.

Here is a picture of the original Kaibo in the mid 80's. The Kaibo opened at the 1st time the Queen came to the Cayman Islands in 1983. She got off the Boat at the dock and walked right by the building that was the first Kaibo.

Queen Elizabeth being greated at Kaibo during her royal visit

Sweeping of the dock and sand before the arrival of The Queen

Mikol's parents were from humble beginnings. His mom, Margaret, was born a coal miner's daughter in 1917 and met her husband, Don Dise, after she moved to Chicago at age 20. His mother passed away in December 2011.

Dise has built a legacy for his family as well as for the people of the Cayman Islands.