Hōlei Sea Arch in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park collapses after centuries
The iconic 90-foot Hōlei Sea Arch on the Big Island fell into the Pacific Ocean, park officials said, after standing for roughly 550 years.
The 90-foot (27-meter) Hōlei Sea Arch, a long-standing landmark in Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, the National Park Service confirmed. The natural formation, created about 550 years ago when lava flows met the coastline, was still present on September 23, when the park closed temporarily for Tropical Storm Nolo, but was gone when the park reopened on September 28.
Park officials posted before-and-after photos on social media, noting the loss of the arch and reminding visitors that the cliff’s geology is subject to differential erosion, a process that gradually wears away softer rock faster than harder rock. The NPS explained that while the arch’s collapse was anticipated, the exact timing could not be predicted.
"This formation is beautiful, but temporary, and has a limited life span," the service said on its website.
"The sea arch will eventually crumble into the sea. However, others will replace it as the cliff slowly migrates inland," the agency added.
The park urged the public to stay away from unstable cliff edges to ensure safety for both visitors and emergency responders.