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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Hōlei Sea Arch collapsed into the Pacific sometime between September 23 and 27, 2026, and the site is unstable. The Associated Press reported that officials warned visitors to stay away because of the risk of falling. Do not visit the former overlook or enter the closed area unless Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park confirms access is safe. (Associated Press, October 3, 2026)
If you want another coastal stop, consider Makapuʻu Point or Mokoliʻi on Oʻahu, or Punaluʻu on Hawaiʻi Island. They offer a paved coastal viewpoint, an offshore islet, and black-sand shoreline—not replacement sea arches.
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Why Hōlei Sea Arch collapsed
Before its collapse, Hōlei was described by the National Park Service as about 90 feet (27.4 meters) high and cut into a lava flow roughly 550 years old. Those figures describe the former formation, not what visitors will find at the site now. (National Park Service, 2024)
Its collapse is consistent with how sea arches form and erode. Along Hawaiʻi’s southern coast, lava meeting the sea creates cliffs that wind and water gradually fracture. Waves wear caves into the rock; continued erosion can open an arch, then break its bridge and leave a sea stack. The National Park Service describes individual arches as temporary features of a shifting coastline. It offers no timetable for another arch to form. (National Park Service, updated March 31, 2020)
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Coastal alternatives, by experience
| Place | Island and what you’ll see | Practical details | How it differs from Hōlei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail / Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline | Oʻahu; coast and ocean views from a paved trail. | Hawaiʻi DLNR describes a two-mile round trip climbing to 500 feet. Check current notices before going. (Hawaiʻi DLNR) | A trail and viewpoint, not a sea arch. |
| Mokoliʻi | Oʻahu’s Windward Coast; a small offshore island visible as part of a coastal stop or drive. | Check current local access guidance before approaching the islet. (Go Hawaiʻi) | An offshore islet, not an arch. |
| Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach | Hawaiʻi Island; black sand and shoreline scenery. | Go Hawaiʻi places it about 30 miles south of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and notes photo and turtle-viewing interest. Check ocean hazards before visiting. (Go Hawaiʻi) | A beach and shoreline, not an arch or cliff viewpoint. |
Makapuʻu Point: a paved coastal viewpoint
Choose Makapuʻu if you want an established walk with broad ocean views rather than a distinctive rock formation. The trail is the paved two-mile round trip described by DLNR, with a climb to 500 feet.
Keep the tide pools off your itinerary
The nearby Makapuʻu tide pools are in a closed area. DLNR warns that they are dangerous because of unpredictable wave surges and a steep, loose trail, and notes fatalities. They are not a safe extension of the lighthouse trail. (Hawaiʻi DLNR)
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Mokoliʻi: an offshore island on Oʻahu
Mokoliʻi is a small island off Oʻahu’s Windward Coast, not a sea arch. It may suit visitors who want a coastal landmark to view during a scenic drive or stop. Tourism information identifies the islet but does not establish live access conditions for a specific approach, so check current local guidance rather than assuming you can safely or legally reach it. (Go Hawaiʻi)
Punaluʻu: black-sand scenery on Hawaiʻi Island
Punaluʻu offers a different kind of coastal stop: a black-sand beach south of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Go Hawaiʻi highlights it for photography and possible turtle viewing. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed; keep a respectful distance from turtles and follow posted guidance. Before entering or spending time at the shoreline, check local hazard signs and current ocean conditions. (Go Hawaiʻi)
Quick Recap
Check conditions before you go
- For Hōlei, check current Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park alerts. The October 3, 2026 AP report describes an unstable site and an official stay-away warning; do not treat older route or overlook information as current access guidance. (Associated Press)
- For Makapuʻu, follow DLNR notices and signs, and do not enter the closed tide-pool area. (Hawaiʻi DLNR)
- For beach and shoreline stops, check current ocean hazards through HIOCEANSAFETY.COM and heed local signs. Go Hawaiʻi recommends checking conditions because they can change. (Go Hawaiʻi)
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