Posted on: Friday, December 13, 2002

Big party for 'Surf Mom'

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

For decades, Joeine Ho went to everyone else's parties, from baby lu'aus to weddings to anniversary celebrations. She was invited everywhere because, as her daughter puts it, she's "everybody's mother." But when Joeine turned 70, her children decided it was time for her to have a party of her own.

After all, it's been a colorful 70 years.

Joeine Gray came to Hawai'i in 1953 on the Lurline. She was a 19-year-old blond, blue-eyed coed from Oregon. It wasn't long before she was taking surfing lessons from beachboy Chico Ho, one of the 13 Ho siblings. "That was a big deal for the beachboys. When a big crew of college girls would come in, it would be like, 'Open season!'" says daughter Ku'umomi Ho. "They were rascal back then."

Once she got to Hawai'i, Joeine never looked back. She married Chico Ho (uncle to Don Ho) and had five children: Michael and Derek Ho, both professional surfers; Maryann, who for years was the "dolphin girl" at Sea Life Park; Debbie, who danced in Don Ho's show; and Ku'umomi, a paddler.

The family lived in Waimanalo, where their lives revolved around surfing. "Some people go to soccer, some people go to football, ours was six surfboards on an orange Volkswagen bug with a puka in the floor looking at the road," says Ku'umomi." Mom surfs to this day. She's the whitewater queen at Hale'iwa and Sunset. Of course, they're ankle slappers. Two inches and glassy."

Joeine's Waimanalo home was always full of surfers, most of whom weren't even related. She became known as "Surf Mom."

"It's like everybody who surfs has stayed over on our living room floor in Waimanalo," says Ku'umomi.

Joeine and Chico eventually divorced, and she later married Bla Pahinui. Soon, the surfers hanging out at Joeine's home were joined by musicians. "Everybody from Kui Lee to the Cazimeros were at our house. Country Comfort practically lived there," says Ku'umomi.

As her 70th birthday neared, Joeine's kids decided it was time to let her know how many lives she touched. They threw a surprise party for her on Sunday at the Waikiki Elks Club.

"Virtually everyone R.S.V.P.'d on the spot, saying they wouldn't miss it for the world," says Ku'umomi. "Even the ones from Maui, Kaua'i, San Francisco, Oregon, Waimea, Waikiki, Waimanalo and Wai'anae. Beachboys Dukie Kuahulu, Blue Makua Jr., Richard Kauo and others were there. Professional surfers, cops, firefighters."

"She never thought we'd ever do something like that, because we never do anything. I'll send her a Longs card, like, three days late with no money inside. We're really bad. With other people, we'll go all out. But with Mom, we go, 'Oh, she'll understand. I'm her kid.' But it's terrible. We never really did it right. But this was right."

Reach Lee Cataluna at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.