The iconic Hōlei Sea Arch in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean after standing on the Big Island’s rugged coastline for roughly 550 years. Park officials believe the landmark fell during a temporary park closure due to Tropical Storm Nolo in late September 2026.
A towering natural landmark on the southern coast of Hawaii’s Big Island has vanished. The Hōlei Sea Arch, a 90-foot basalt lava rock formation located at the end of Chain of Craters Road inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, collapsed into the ocean sometime between September 23 and September 27, according to the National Park Service.
While the exact hour of the collapse remains unrecorded, park staff confirmed that the arch was gone by Monday, September 28, when the park reopened to visitors. Photographic evidence captured on September 30 shows empty space where the natural bridge once stood.
How Waves and Eruptions Shaped the 550-Year-Old Arch
The fallen landmark owed its existence to ancient geological activity and relentless coastal forces. The arch formed roughly 550 years ago when ancient lava flows reached the coastline, where Pacific Ocean waves carved out the vault through a process known as differential erosion, in which softer rock wears away faster than harder, more resistant material. The arch is named hōlei after a small endemic plant in the milkweed family.
Park experts noted that the coastal cliffs flanking the site had experienced mounting stress for years. Severe ground shaking and earthquakes during the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse severely damaged the cliffs near the arch. In January 2020, widening cracks and worsening instability forced the park to shut down the original viewing area. Although a safer viewing platform opened further back in March 2020, the relentless battering continued. Later that year, powerful surf from Tropical Storm Darby broke off a large chunk of rock from the base of the arch.
Park Authorities Issue Safety Warnings Following Public Trespassing
Following the collapse, park management issued strict warnings urging visitors to stay away from unstable coastal cliff edges. Officials reported that social media images showed tourists and onlookers entering closed restricted zones near the former landmark, creating severe safety hazards that put both trespassers and potential emergency responders at risk of falling into rough, wave-swept waters.
Hōlei Sea Arch is a very special place to so many of our visitors! Please share your favorite Hōlei photos in the comments, We would love to see them too.
The park service addressed the loss publicly across social media channels, sharing before-and-after photographs that highlighted the stark alteration to the coastline. Yes, it’s true. RIP Hōlei Sea Arch,
the park administration wrote on Facebook and Instagram, prompting thousands of visitors to share personal memories, videos, and photographs of past trips.
What Lies Ahead for Hawaii’s Volcanic Coastline
The sudden disappearance of the Hōlei Sea Arch illustrates the ongoing geological changes reshaping the Big Island’s remote shores. Park officials emphasized that coastal arches are inherently transient features of volcanic landscapes destined to break down over time.
Federal agencies also acknowledged the milestone on digital platforms, with the US Department of the Interior posting on X that the event marks the latest transformation of the park’s remote and rugged coastline.
