Ho established himself as a local legend by winning the prestigious Triple Crown of Surfing in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990.
"Derek's most memorable moment at Pipe occurred in 1986, when he pulled into an eight-second tube that spit twice on him," reads the Triple Crown website. "He set the bar for extraordinary Pipe surfing. If you ask young Hawaiian pro surfers how they want to win the Pipe Masters and Triple Crown of surfing they'll say: 'Like Uncle Derek did in '86.'"
He sealed his status as an all-timer by becoming Hawaii's first world champion at age 29 when many thought he was done.
Ho edged a trio of Australians – Gary Elkerton, Dave Macaulay and Damien Hardman – to the title in 1993. Kelly Slater, who was balancing his surfing commitments with Baywatch, finished fifth.
He won Pipe that year too and it was his playground. Jamie O'Brien, another specialist at the iconic barrelling reef break, rated Ho in the best three Pipe surfers of all-time alongside Gerry Lopez and Rory Russel.
"Derek ruled the 80's — actually, he's still ruling today," O'Brien wrote last year. "He's probably surfed out there more than anybody on the planet. He knows the wave better than anyone in the world and with that being said, he's a style master and he just goes for it. Derek is a living legend."
The technical ability and familiarity with the wave needed to make a drop like this is case in point of Ho's expertise.
The Ho family is royalty in Hawaii. Derek followed his brother Michael into the sport and is the uncle of Coco and Mason, who both surfed on the world tour.
He is survived by his wife Tanya, son Makoa and daughter Kianaho.
