​​Surfing 4 Peace is a person to person and cross-border cooperation initiative that aims to bridge cultural and political barriers between surfers in the Middle East. Surfing 4 Peace initiates and implements unique cooperative projects, events, and campaigns based around surfing and beach culture with an emphasis on coexistence, cross-cultural dialogue, and the shared surfing experience.
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​In the spring of 2004, surfing Ambassador Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz was on a trip to Israel, where he had introduced surfing 50 years before, and expressed his interest in meeting some local Israeli-Arab surfers to Arthur Rashkovan, a local surf and skate industry exec, and then-Director of the Israeli Surfing Association.  Arthur introduced him to Abdallah Serri and later that year, organized the first surf contest for Israeli Arabs. With the success of the contest and a donation of boards from Doc to the Israeli Arab surfers, the Surfing 4 Peace concept was born.
Since 2004, S4P has developed a number of projects and initiatives. On August 21, 2007, Surfing 4 Peace donated 14 surfboards to Palestinian surfers crossing the border between Israel and Gaza at the Erez Crossing with Doc Paskowitz, his son David, Arthur Rashkovan, and with support from Surfing World Champion Kelly Slater. The S4P crew also teamed up with One Voice for a concert on October 19, 2007 that was held the day after the planned One Voice peace concerts in Jericho and Tel Aviv with performances by Israeli Surf Band Malka Baya, Josh and David Paskowitz, Kelly Slater, and Makua Rothman. Over 3000 people were in attendance.
In August of 2010, after two years of negotiations, Explore Corps was able to secure permission for the boards to enter Gaza.  With shipping into Gaza provided by the UN, the surfboards were delivered in late August to the grateful member of The Gaza Surf Club. For the first time, every surfer in Gaza now has his own surfboard, including the newest addition to the Club, Gaza’s first female surfer. S4P launched the Gaza Surfer Girl Project later that year to design Islamic surf wear for women to also hit the waves. S4P partnered with a team of young designers from Parsons The New School For Design and set about designing and manufacturing custom swimwear for the girls that meets Gaza’s standards for modesty.  S4P also secured board donations for the girls as well as wetsuits, donated by The Quiksilver Foundation.  The icing on the cake came courtesy of The Wahine Project, a California-based organization that promotes surfing for girls who may not otherwise have the resources to paddle out. The Wahines joined the effort and sent a care package to Gaza filled with equipment and treats for the girls, including custom letters and greeting cards expressing their support.  The delivery of these goods was overseen by Explore Corps during the summer of 2011.
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For five years, Surfing 4 Peace has worked to bring the spirit of Aloha to the heart of the Middle East.  The time has come to bring the spirit of the Middle East to the heart of Aloha.  Surfing 4 Peace is currently seeking corporate and donor support for a Surfing 4 Peace Tour, featuring a delegation drawn from the region’s diverse S4P population, and including surfer delegates from both Israel and Palestine.
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Their mission will take them to the North Shore to visit the source of Aloha and declare their vision for peace in the capital of surfing.  The S4P tour will serve as a global declaration that when governments fail to make peace, it is up to the citizens to make peace between communities.