Papa'iloa Beach

Papa'iloa Beach is a scenic and relatively uncrowded North Shore beach in Haleiwa, known for its role in the TV series LOST. The beach features a wide expanse of white sand, a nearshore reef, and excellent shoreline views, although it's not ideal for swimming due to shallow reefs and winter surf.

Papa'iloa Beach, Oahu

Papa'iloa Beach (view panorama) × is among the lesser-known beaches on Oahu's North Shore. It only became more popular in recent years because of the TV series LOST, which was partially filmed near here.

Papa'iloa (view panorama) × is a beautiful and long white-sand beach fronting the beachfront community of the same name. A shallow reef lines much of the coastline, so it is not a prime beach to go swimming.

Several surf spots are located offshore. One of the more popular spots is called Himalayas. The surf spot was named by two big-wave surfers in the late 1950s who after surfing here believed that they had ridden the highest surf in the world and named this place after the highest mountains in the world – the Himalayas.

During the winter months, the waves can get very big and the ocean currents erode the parts of the beach that are not protected by a reef. In the summer months when the surf is generally calmer, spearfishers can be seen diving on the reefs offshore.

Key Features of Papa'iloa Beach

TV filming location: Famous for scenes from the TV series LOST, filmed along its shoreline
Scenic white-sand beach: Long, uncrowded beach with panoramic views of the North Shore
Surfing and spearfishing: Offshore reefs and breaks like Himalayas make it a spot for surfers and summer spearfishers
Seasonal erosion: Winter surf can cause shoreline erosion and strong currents, limiting beach access
Limited facilities: No lifeguards or restrooms available; nearest amenities are in Haleiwa town