The collapse was noticed between Sept. 23 and 27

Hōlei Sea Arch collapsed into the Pacific Ocean after standing for about 550 years on the coast of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. The National Park Service (NPS) said the 27.4-meter-high lava rock formation was still visible on Sept. 23, but by Sept. 27 it was no longer there.

The exact time of the collapse is unknown. Park officials said the structure may have fallen last weekend while the area was temporarily closed because of Tropical Storm Nolo.

Size and location of the formation

The arch, located at the end of Chain of Craters Road on Hawaiʻi Island, was one of the most photographed spots for visitors, with its structure stretching out from the coast toward the sea. The area was among the tourist stops on the Big Island, the largest island in the Hawaiian chain.

Park officials had warned of the risk for years

The NPS said signs of instability had long been visible along the shoreline on both sides of the sea arch. The agency had warned the public in 2021 that the structure would eventually collapse.

  • The 2018 eruption of Kīlauea volcano and the summit collapse damaged the cliffs near the arch.
  • In early 2020, the former viewing area was closed because of new cracks and weakening, and a new viewing point was later opened farther away.
  • That same year, storm waves from a tropical system broke off a rock from the base of the arch.

The collapse became the latest sign of coastal change

The NPS described the destruction as the latest change along the park’s remote and rugged coastline. According to the agency, formations like this are not permanent; as the shoreline slowly erodes inland, some arches disappear and new ones take their place.

A social media post about the collapse of the widely visited formation also drew strong attention. Thousands of people shared memories of visits to the arch along with old photos from their trips.