Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
18 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Hōlei Sea Arch Collapses Into Pacific at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Long-term erosion driven by earthquakes followed by storm surf removed a well-known lava-formed landmark, leaving the coastline and viewing areas unstable.

Image
Image
A redditer posted in late September 2026 a photo showing that the Holei Sea Arch in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has fallen into the sea.
Image

Overview

  • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park confirmed the roughly 90-foot Hōlei Sea Arch fell into the ocean sometime between Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 27, with the exact moment unknown.
  • The arch formed about 550 years ago from ancient lava flows and collapsed through differential erosion, a process the U.S. Geological Survey and park officials have long said would eventually destroy it.
  • Park staff documented the loss with before-and-after photos and an online post saying “RIP Hōlei Sea Arch,” and the park reopened on Sept. 28 after a temporary closure for Tropical Storm Nolo.
  • Officials warned visitors to stay out of closed areas because the cliff edges are unstable and said social media shows people entering restricted zones, which risks injury and endangers first responders.
  • The collapse follows years of weakening from the 2018 Kīlauea earthquakes, new 2020 cracks that moved viewing areas, and storm surf damage, and it will reshape tourism and ongoing coastal management as the shoreline continues to change.