Ho is riding family name

The name resonates through the Hawaiian Islands like the vibration from a volcanic blast. It awakens memories of brothers Michael and Derek Ho, who set the bar on the famed North Shore and left the rest of the surfing world playing limbo.

Mason Ho was born into that Hawaiian royalty nearly 19 years ago. And this week at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, he hopes to add to the family legacy. Last year, in the first six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) contest of his career, he finished ninth at this event, advancing through nine heats before his run ended in the quarterfinals.

He slipped through his opening-round heat Tuesday, earning the opportunity to compete again this afternoon in the round of 96. Immediately after surviving that opening round of 144, Ho was on the phone with his father, Michael, who for 10 consecutive years finished in the top 16 in the world and is considered the most consistent performer at Hawaii’s legendary surf spots.

Support from the beach comes from his uncle Derek, the 1993 world champion and nine-time finisher in the top 16.

“My uncle always helps me out. He has done this before,” said Ho, who also qualified for the junior final Sunday. “My dad’s on the phone giving me advice too, and anything he says means so much more.”

Sometimes, carrying a famous family name can add pressure, but Ho said that hasn’t happened. If anything, his last name makes him want to match their feats that much more.

“Little thoughts go through your head, like, ‘Whoa, my dad and my uncle did this,’ ” he said. “It definitely gives me a little push, but it’s so cool that I have them to give me that push.”

Yet, Ho, whose pedigree makes him one to watch, has managed to escape criticism from his peers.

“I think his surfing has done all the talking for him,” said Roy Powers, the top Hawaiian on the WQS. “The stuff he’ll be doing in the next 10 years will blow us all away.”

Ho is still feeling some heat, however -- from his 15-year-old sister, Coco, who is emerging as one of the top girls in Hawaii. They each placed third in their respective divisions at the Billabong World Junior Championships in January in Australia, considered the world championships for surfers 21 and under.

Mason Ho was hoping to ride that momentum into the WQS this season, his first full-bore run at qualifying for the World Championship Tour. But at a six-star event in Durban, South Africa, in mid-April, Ho’s fin cut into the arch of his foot in his opening-round heat. He opted to drop out of the event and then sit out another six-star event in Scotland while the injury healed.

Jason Shibata, a 26-year-old fellow professional from Hawaii, said he tried to encourage Ho to return for his next heat in that Durban event, but Ho didn’t want to risk infection from dirty seawater.

“Some people would go just to get the points, but he’s looking a step ahead,” Shibata said. “That’s what I really like about Mason.”

Though the injury set him back in the standings, Ho said it provided further motivation.

“I like the little fire it gave me,” he said. “If that didn’t happen, I might have cruised a little more, maybe not get the big result I’m waiting for.”

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Powers, ranked No. 17 on the WQS, produced a wave score of 6.37 out of a possible 10 on his final ride with about a minute left to slip by Paulo Moura of Brazil for the final qualifying spot in his round of 96 heat.

Powers, who finished second at the U.S. Open of Surfing last year, was pleased with the 4- to 6-foot waves that rolled through Wednesday.

“It’s a little punchy beach break,” he said.

Chris Ward of San Clemente, tied for 16th on the WCT, was among those who failed to advance out of the round of 96.

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Bethany Hamilton of Hawaii, who lost her left arm in a shark attack four years ago, was among the women who advanced to Friday’s round of 24.

Hamilton, 17, won her heat Wednesday in the round of 48, totaling 14 points for her two-best-waves score. Hamilton, who is ranked No. 52 in the women’s WQS, has two of the top 10 heat scores at the event so far.

Others who advanced include Holly Beck of Palos Verdes, ranked No. 51 on the WQS.

dan.arritt@latimes.com