One of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable coastal landmarks is gone. The iconic Hōlei Sea Arch at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean after standing for more than five centuries.
The National Park Service confirmed that the roughly 90-foot natural formation was still standing on September 23 but had collapsed by Sunday night, September 27. The exact moment of the collapse is unknown, and officials said it may have occurred while the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo.
Formed from an ancient lava flow approximately 550 years ago, Hōlei Sea Arch was created through differential erosion, as waves gradually wore away weaker layers of volcanic rock. The process that created the arch also ultimately contributed to its disappearance.
The landmark had shown signs of instability for years. Earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse damaged nearby cliffs, while new cracks discovered in 2020 prompted park officials to close the original viewing area and establish a safer location farther from the cliff edge.
The arch also suffered damage from powerful surf during Tropical Storm Darby in 2020, when a large section of rock broke away from its lower portion. Park officials had long warned that the formation was temporary and could eventually crumble into the sea.
Although the collapse happened during a period affected by Tropical Storm Nolo, the National Park Service has not confirmed that the storm directly caused the formation to fall. The surrounding coastline was already considered unstable because of years of erosion, volcanic activity and weather-related damage.
The disappearance has dramatically changed the landscape along the park’s rugged southern coastline. Before-and-after images released by the National Park Service show the stark difference between the familiar arch and the empty space where it once stood.
Park officials are now warning visitors to stay away from closed areas and unstable cliff edges. The cliffs drop vertically toward the ocean, creating serious risks of falling and drowning, and entering restricted areas can also place first responders in danger.
While Hōlei Sea Arch is no longer standing, its collapse is a reminder that Hawaiʻi’s volcanic landscapes are constantly changing. The same powerful natural forces that created the landmark over centuries eventually reshaped it once again.
