HUMAN TOUCH – A LOOK INSIDE THE MIND OF MASON HO

From Surfer

During the ‘80s, SURFER introduced a magazine section titled “Human Touch,” which provided a glimpse into the interests and personalities of surfing’s favorite characters. It was where you could learn that Mark Richards was a Springsteen enthusiast, or that Archy was a fan of E. E. Cummings. To revive this humanizing column, we rang up the Hawaii’s Mason Ho. Whether he’s throwing inverted spins at Rocky Point, or messing around the shorebreak on a retro craft, Mason likes to keep it fun, and we love him for it. Get a peek inside his mind below. —Dashel Pierson

Sounds:
Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Snoop Dogg, slack-key guitar, and almost any Hawaiian or reggae music.

Private Party:
My dad, Derek Ho, 10 of my best friends, Wiz Khalifa, extra-hot girl models from Egypt, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and possibly the US. I’d have a huge crap [dice] table made of white gold and koa wood. I’d also have a ping-pong table, foosball table, all kinds of game tables, and some cool fruit punch. Coco would not be invited, but I love her dearly!

My Worst:
The worst feeling in the world for me is doing dishes, but Dad is making me learn to like it.

Dream Session:
I had a dream session at Desert Point with only my dad and I out. It was solid 8-foot, maybe bigger. A lot of my heroes were on the beach, but they were over it because it was a little windy and they surfed all morning. Dad kept looking at me going, “Are you f–king serious? Where is everybody? Only you and I? Are you f—king serious?!” Literally no one else, just two guys out, not even some random guy out or anything. I’ll never forget that.

Skunked:
Sorry, we are way too happy and amped to get skunked.

World View:
First off, it’s all about the moment—no past and no future. But since we are so blessed to be surfers and to do it for a job or whatever, I think that we should do what we can to make other people feel special. Like if you know that kid or that guy would be amped on the trunks, shirt, shoes, glasses, fins, hats, watches or any of that material shit you’ve got on, give it to them (sorry, not my boards). Or if some kid writes you on Facebook or Instagram or something, just shoot him an easy reply back. You can’t do it with every single person in every situation, but when you’re just sitting there and have some free time, it’s easy and you might get them amped. And maybe they’ve got a hot sister? But actually, my sister is hot, so f—k that! Most of all don’t do drugs! One body, one mind, and one chance!

My Bad:
If I cut you off, I’m sorry. I don’t just cut people off though. If you paddle around me, I’ll for sure cut you off. Haha.

Hall of Fame:
Mike Ho, Derek Ho, Andy Irons, Mike Peterson, Bruce Lee.

Films:
All Bruce Lee, James Bond, and Clint Eastwood films. good comedy movies, Apocalypto, any mafia/gangster movies, Scarface, and almost any cowboy movies.

Words:
Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson
Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Hawaiian myths and legends
“No Narcs”

Feast:
My dad cooks better then anybody I know, and better than most places I go to eat out, honestly. I eat red meat less than 10 times a year, and other then that I’ll eat rice with anything.