An iconic natural landmark in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, permanently changing a rugged section of the park’s coastline.
The National Park Service announced that the 90-foot Hōlei Sea Arch collapsed sometime between Wednesday, September 23rd and Sunday night, September 27th. The exact timing of the collapse is unknown, though officials said it may have occurred while the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo.
Hōlei Sea Arch Collapses Into The Pacific
Hōlei Sea Arch had stood along the remote coastline for years, becoming a recognizable feature of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The formation was shaped by the ongoing forces of waves, weather and geological activity affecting the island.
The coastline around the arch had shown signs of instability for years. Earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and subsequent summit collapse damaged cliffs near the arch. In January 2020, additional cracks and instability led the National Park Service to close the original viewing area. A safer viewing area farther from the cliff edge opened in March 2020.
Later that year, Tropical Storm Darby produced massive surf that broke away a section of rock from the lower portion of the arch.
National Park Service Warns Visitors To Stay Back
With the sea arch now gone, park officials are warning visitors not to approach the area where it once stood.
The coastal cliffs drop vertically toward the Pacific and remain unstable. The National Park Service said photos shared on social media show people entering the closed area near the former arch, creating a serious risk of falling and drowning while also putting first responders in danger.
Visitors are required to stay out of closed areas and away from unstable cliff edges. Officials warn that sections of the coastline can collapse without warning.