Hawaii's iconic 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch collapses
The lava rock formation protruding from the rocky cliffs of Volcanoes National Park crumbled some time last weekend.
Hawaii's renowned Hōlei Sea Arch, a 90-foot-tall volcanic rock formation formed approximately 550 years ago, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. The collapse occurred sometime between September 23 and September 27, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The arch, situated at the end of Chain of Craters Road on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, was a popular tourist attraction, frequently photographed.
The NPS had cautioned in 2021 that the arch's demise was inevitable. The arch's collapse coincided with Tropical Storm Nolo, during which the park was closed. Previous earthquakes from the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse had weakened the cliffs surrounding the arch. In January 2020, the original arch viewing area was closed due to new cracks and instability, and a safer viewing area was opened a few months later.
The arch's collapse is part of the park's remote and rugged coastline's ongoing transformation. The NPS emphasized that while the sea arch is beautiful, it is temporary and will eventually crumble into the sea as the cliff continues to migrate inland.
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