Hōlei Sea Arch, a landmark on the coast of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, collapsed on September 27, 2026, according to reports of the park’s confirmation. The roughly 90-foot natural arch had been eroding for centuries, but officials have not said whether recent storm conditions contributed to its final collapse.
When did Hōlei Sea Arch collapse?
The arch collapsed on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Hawaiʻi News Now reported the date while reporting the park’s confirmation; Hawaiʻi Public Radio said the park confirmed the collapse in a Facebook post on September 30. HPR’s report was published October 1.
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Did Hurricane Nolo cause the collapse?
The collapse followed Hurricane Nolo’s passage near Hawaiʻi Island the prior weekend, but the National Park Service had not said whether high surf or other storm conditions contributed. The timing alone does not establish a cause. The arch had a documented history of erosion and instability.
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What was Hōlei Sea Arch, and how did it form?
The National Park Service described the feature as about 90 feet (27.4 meters) tall, extending from steep sea cliffs into the Pacific. It was cut into a lava flow dating from about 550 years ago. Different layers of lava erode at different rates because they vary in hardness, a process called differential erosion. Hōlei is the name of a small endemic plant in the milkweed family, Ochrosia.
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Sea arches form as coastal lava cliffs are fractured and worn by wind and water. Waves excavate caves and erode a headland; as the opening grows through it, an arch remains. Erosion continues, and eventually the connecting bridge can collapse, leaving a sea stack—a pile of rock. This is a normal stage in the changing life of a sea arch. The available accounts do not establish the precise mechanics of Hōlei’s final collapse.
Why had the arch been considered unstable?
Earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse damaged nearby cliffs. After cracks and instability were identified, the park closed the original viewing area in January 2020 and later opened a viewing area in a more stable location. Later that year, large surf from Tropical Storm Darby broke off part of the arch’s lower section; the park warned then that it could collapse at any time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you still visit the Hōlei Sea Arch area?
The arch itself is gone, but the surrounding coastline remains. After the collapse, park officials urged visitors to stay out of closed areas and away from unstable cliff edges, which can fail without warning. The sources reporting the collapse do not establish the current access status of the former overlook, so do not assume it is open. Check current Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park alerts and conditions before making a trip, and follow posted closures.
The NPS’s background information also warns that lava flow fields can have deep cracks, uneven and unstable ground, and razor-sharp lava. Its older Hōlei page still describes the arch as standing, so it should not be treated as an up-to-date notice about the site’s condition.
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