Jack Ho, doing his thing. Photo: LiftFoils
Jack Ho is a jack of many trades (pun intended). Born and raised in Waikiki, Ho grew up a short walk from the beach and spent his childhood playing in the ocean. When he was five, his dad taught him to surf and he was hooked. When he was 13, Ho was introduced to foiling and quickly added it to his watersports repertoire. These days, the 18 year old does it all: shortboarding, longboarding, foiling, downwind foiling, winging, and canoe paddling. And he excels at all of them. We caught up with Ho between waves and asked how growing up in Waikiki shaped him as a person, how he decides which activity to do each day, and his top accomplishments so far.
How did growing up in Waikiki shape you as a person and as a surfer?
Waikiki is arguably the most famous beach in the world. Growing up in this special yet unique place, I have seen so many different faces and walks of life. I have grown up learning how to surf with friends from school, friends from the beach, celebrities, pro surfers – you name it! The coolest thing about this all is that there is so much talent that comes out of Waikiki. It is the birthplace of modern-day surfing, with credit to Duke Kahanamoku. The surf culture shines through the local people who have lived and ridden waves in Waikiki for generations. All of this has given me a perspective of my culture, coming from Hawaii. It shines light on people who have come before me and highlights the talent that is always emerging.
Did you do a lot of competitions growing up?
Yes, competition was a huge part of growing up. The most popular contests happened in the summertime. We call them “menehune comps.” The menehune contests were always something to look forward to as a grom. The entire youth surfing population on the island would flock down to Queens surf break on the weekend and spend all day at the beach. You would go surf your heats, and then come in and play on the beach. It was epic. It was always fun when you won because the prize packs were loaded.
When did you first get into foiling?
Foiling first caught my attention in 2018. I was 13 years old at the time and super serious about longboarding. I would paddle out to longboard breaks and there would be a few of the first foil guys hopping around. I remember being so jealous that they were having a blast flying while I sat there waiting for a one-foot wave. Because longboard surfers and foilers were targeting the same conditions, I would keep seeing these guys in the lineup.
One day, my dad took me down to the used surfboard shop and surprised me with a $600 “cheapo” foil set up. It was a total made-in-China rig and barely worked. I used that board every day after school and within a few months, I was buying and selling to get new and better gear.
What other water sports disciplines do you participate in?
I try to do as many as I can. All types of traditional surfing, foiling, winging, and sometimes canoe paddling. My favorite has to be shortboarding. I love it because I feel like I still have so much to improve on with my surfing. I enjoy having to be challenged to become better and that is the one discipline that has made me put the most effort in. A very close second would be downwind foiling. It is one of the best sensations in the world when you’re flying down hills of swell, all generated by the wind and unable to be ridden on a surfboard. It can be compared to surfing a really big wave.
How do you decide which activity to do each day?
Usually, I just wake up and check the surf report. The wind is a primary factor on deciding. If it is light, I’ll go for a surf –longboard or shortboard depending on the size. If I wake up and the wind is already nuking, I know that the downwind foil is on. When that happens, I usually wait until the afternoon when the wind peaks and I’ll do a few runs. If the wind is light and the waves are tiny, the best thing to do is foil in the waves or go fishing.
What have been some of your top accomplishments so far?
Some of my proudest accomplishments have been crossing the Kaiwi and Pailolo channels on my foil, winning the Duke’s OceanFest longboard division multiple times since I was a kid, and being awarded the 2023 Duke Award in honor of Duke Kahanamoku. These are accomplishments that reflect my lifestyle and I’m honored to hold these achievements.
Do you have a crew that you regularly surf/foil with?
Yes, my Waikiki friends were my OG surf buddies. We have made lifelong friendships from such a young age and we all live in town, making Waikiki our home spot. A lot of them have gone on to land huge sponsorships, win prestigious events, and do amazing things in the community. It is awesome to watch each other succeed. My foiling crew is made up of a ton of guys and gals that call ourselves the “Voyager Foiler” ohana.
Voyager Foiler was a name that a close friend made up when there were only a few of us foiling downwind. In the last three years, it has spread like wildfire. The group now consists of about 40 of us. Some pro surfers, some kids, average Joe surfers, paddlers, my friends’ dads (who are now my friends), and a ton of other amazing people who I never would have met if it wasn’t for foiling. The community is one of the greatest things about the sport.
What do you like to do when you’re not on the water?
I really enjoy music. I like to play music – guitar and singing mostly. Other than that, fishing is mainly the cure to flat waves or no wind.
What are some of your plans looking forward?
One of my main goals is to tackle Pe’ahi. I had the privilege of going this past winter but got pretty spooked. That wave is so gnarly and the vibe is pretty intimidating, considering you’re sitting there with the best in the world. I also want to tackle some new waves that I haven’t surfed. That’s going to require some planning and traveling.
