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- Hawaii's iconic Holei Sea Arch collapsed into the Pacific Ocean.
- The 90-foot natural landmark was in Volcanoes National Park.
- Erosion and seismic shocks caused the arch's disappearance.
Hawaii Arch Collapse: A famous natural landmark on Hawaii’s Big Island has disappeared into the Pacific Ocean. The nearly 90-foot Holei Sea Arch, located inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, was still standing on September 23 but had collapsed by September 27. While the National Park Service said it is not known exactly when the collapse happened, the video after the collapse has gone viral on social media.
How The Famous Arch Was Formed
Holei Sea Arch stood along the southern coast of the Big Island, near the end of Chain of Craters Road. The arch was made of basalt from a lava flow that the National Park Service dates to about 550 years ago. Over hundreds of years, waves gradually wore away parts of the lava cliff.
🇺🇸One of Hawaii’s most iconic natural landmarks CRUMBLED into the ocean
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 3, 2026
The 90 foot Hōlei Sea Arch vanished off the Big Island while Tropical Storm Nolo battered Volcanoes National Park.
Decades of seismic shocks from Kīlauea eruption cycles had already fractured the cliff… pic.twitter.com/tcrrxVhLE9
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As different sections of the rock eroded at different speeds, an opening slowly formed and became the natural arch. Sea arches are common along parts of Hawaii’s southern coastline. However, these formations do not last forever as continued erosion weakens the rock until the structure eventually collapses.
Video Emerges
The videos that have emerged online show Holei Sea Arch along the coastline of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park before its collapse. It gives a view of the nearly 90-foot basalt arch and the surrounding Pacific Ocean, showing the natural formation before its disappearance in late September.
🇺🇸One of Hawaii’s most iconic natural landmarks CRUMBLED into the ocean
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 3, 2026
The 90 foot Hōlei Sea Arch vanished off the Big Island while Tropical Storm Nolo battered Volcanoes National Park.
Decades of seismic shocks from Kīlauea eruption cycles had already fractured the cliff… pic.twitter.com/tcrrxVhLE9
Why Is The Collapse Significant?
Holei Sea Arch was one of the most recognisable sights along the coast of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. It had remained part of the coastline for centuries. The arch had earlier shown signs of instability after the 2018 earthquake. Due to safety concerns, the National Park Service had closed the original viewing area on January 15, 2020. A new viewing area was opened in March in the same year.
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