Here is a little back story…
Don Ho was 9 years old his parents packed up the kids and made the move to Phoenix Arizona. He grew up a typical young man, attended school, hung around friends, played sports etc. He was a very young when he discovered his first true love and passion, his first skateboard. Countless hours and days spent riding around and getting into mischief with his buddies. Don Ho developed a unique surfstyle of Skateboarding. He would later go on to become sponsored by Powell Peralta skate team. As a teenager he debuted in his first full page photo in the infamous Skateboarder Magazine. Shortly after his photo shoot he injured himself in a competition that would force him to take a break from the skate scene for awhile.
In high-school he met and married his high-school sweetheart and would later have his only daughter. As young love and fate would have it the two split up and went their separate ways. It was during this time he would pursue his second passion, music. He was a talented guitar player, singer and song writer. He played in several bands and did many projects with local artists in the valley.
In early 2000’s he would revisit and back get in touch with all of his old skate buddies again. He went on to share and teach his passion with his granddaughter ( his other skate buddy). With the help of his friends he would partner up with AZPX and design his own line of skateboards. That was only the beginning, he and his friends would later go on to make the documentary High Rollers. The documentary would go in depth about the local Arizona skaters and feature specific spots that were legendary for the local skate scene. The first viewing of the movie was so packed they had to turn people away. This devastated my father, but the impact on the local scene was surreal and their hard work had paid off. I’m sure with Don Ho ’s creativity and his love for the community he would have come up with something else that would showcase or high light the sport.
In early February of 2024 Don Ho started exhibiting symptoms of what looked like a stroke. After months of testing in mid June he was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. It unfortunately spread from his colon to his liver, lungs and finally his brain. He started radiation on his brain immediately and was scheduled for chemotherapy for his other organs. Due to the nature and the condition of his poor riddled body he could not follow through with the chemotherapy. After consulting and discussing with family it was decided to help him transition as peaceful and painlessly as possible. Don Ho was a God fearing man and after lots of love and prayers he was called home in the early hours on July 2, 2024. Surrounded by his family and the love and support of everyone he has loved so dearly.
As a family we have vowed to share his story and I made a promise we would spread awareness and try to help in any way we can when it comes to this disease. My father really wanted to get through treatment so he could teach his great grandson how to skateboard and watch him graduate. His great grandson was one of his proudest moments he loved him so very much. It was also his wish that we share his story. He said if his story could save at least one life, it wouldn’t be for nothing. If you had the pleasure of knowing my father you would know his upbeat and positive nature. His silly sense of humor and his big heart. He cared and loved so deeply, he was a genuine and honest man. Please help us carry on his legacy and honor him the way he deserves. We ask you to please help us live out his wishes and help spread knowledge and help others to get screened. Thank you with much love from his family ❤️