Iconic Hōlei Sea Arch collapses in Hawaii

The iconic Hōlei Sea Arch, a prominent natural landmark at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean after approximately 550 years of existence. U.S. National Park Service (NPS) officials confirmed that the 27.4-meter-tall structure was standing on September 23, but was gone by September 27. The exact time of the collapse remains unrecorded, though it is believed to have occurred during the temporary closure of the park due to Tropical Storm Nolo.

The geological structure had been showing signs of instability for years. Following the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano, which caused significant earthquake activity, and subsequent damage from ocean storms, the NPS had been monitoring the arch closely. In January 2020, officials discovered new cracks, prompting them to relocate a viewing area for visitor safety. A large portion of the arch had previously broken off in 2022. The NPS had long warned that the formation was temporary and susceptible to natural erosion, and while the site remains a popular destination at the end of the Chain of Craters Road, its main feature is now lost to the sea.