Hawaii’s famed Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed

Hawaii's renowned Hōlei Sea Arch, a striking 90-foot lava rock formation within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. The iconic natural arch, which was carved by ocean waves from an ancient lava flow approximately 550 years ago, was confirmed to have fallen by the National Park Service on October 1, 2026. Its disappearance occurred sometime between September 23 and September 27, 2026, during a period of turbulent weather, potentially linked to Tropical Storm Nolo.

The collapse marks a natural and anticipated geological event, as sea arches are inherently temporary features shaped by constant erosion. Park officials had noted the arch's increasing instability for years, with past events such as the 2018 Kīlauea eruption earthquakes and Tropical Storm Darby in 2022 contributing to its weakening. The Hōlei Sea Arch stood as a significant landmark at the end of the Chain of Craters Road, attracting numerous visitors who admired its dramatic beauty and the powerful interplay between volcanic land and sea.

Following the collapse, park authorities have issued warnings, urging visitors to maintain a safe distance from the now unstable cliff edges. While the physical arch is gone, the geological processes of erosion and formation continue along the Big Island's dynamic coastline, promising future transformations.