In brief
The towering 90‑foot Hōlei Sea Arch, formed around 1470, collapsed into the Pacific Ocean between 23 and 27 September. The National Park Service had warned of its fragility, citing earthquakes and storms that eroded the cliffs. The collapse marks a dramatic transformation of Volcanoes National Park’s coast, while the structure’s loss echoes how quickly natural wonders can change.
The towering 90‑foot Hōlei Sea Arch, a limestone‑like lava formation that formed around 1470, fell into the Pacific Ocean between 23 and 27 September. The collapse occurred after a tropical storm and centuries‑long erosion weakened the cliff face that supported the arch.
Volcanoes National Park officials had warned that the arch would eventually crumble. In 2021 the National Park Service questioned the structure’s stability and predicted its eventual disintegration, noting that waves from a tropical storm had later removed a chunk of rock from its base. The final collapse confirmed those concerns and left the coastline in a new, more exposed shape.
Visitors who once toured the arch noted its photogenic beauty. Social media posts from the National Park Service’s page already carry thousands of likes, with comments reminiscing about the arch’s majestic presence and the fleeting nature of geological wonders.
While the old arch no longer stands, the cliffs will continue to shift and erosion may create new features in the coming months, a reminder that even iconic landmarks are temporary on the geological timescale.
