One of the most recognizable natural landmarks at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been lost to the sea. The Holei Sea Arch, a formation carved by long-term erosion, recently collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, the National Park Service confirmed in an Oct. 1 news release.
While the exact timing of the collapse remains unconfirmed, park officials noted the arch was still standing on Sept. 23 but had disappeared by Sept. 27. The National Park Service suggested the structure may have fallen while the park was closed to the public during Tropical Storm Nolo, which impacted the area between Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.
The loss of the arch was not unexpected, as the surrounding coastline has shown persistent instability for years. The area had previously been subjected to significant damage from earthquakes related to the 2018 Kilauea eruption and subsequent summit collapse. Further degradation occurred in 2020, when the park was forced to shutter the viewing area due to the development of new cracks. By 2022, powerful waves had already stripped a significant portion of the arch, removing nearly half a ton of rock.
Reflecting on the nature of the park’s landscape in 2022, Ben Hayes, the park’s interpretation and education manager, noted that the constant creation and destruction of features is an inherent part of the visitor experience. Following the collapse, the area remains closed, and the National Park Service has issued a stern warning for visitors to avoid the cliff edge, citing serious hazards posed by the unstable terrain.
The arch was still present Sept. 23, but was gone by Sept. 27, the park said. The exact time of collapse is unknown, but NPS said it may have happened while the park was closed for Tropical Storm Nolo on Sept. 23-24.
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