Hawaii’s Holei Sea Arch collapses as park warns of unstable cliffs

The Holei Sea Arch, a well-known coastal formation in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, the National Park Service said. The arch on Hawaii’s Big Island stood about 90 feet, or 27.4 metres, high before it fell. The park service said the collapse occurred sometime between September 23 and September 27, possibly while the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo.

Although the disappearance of the formation was not unexpected, the agency described it as the latest change to the park’s remote and rugged coastline. The arch had been shaped over time by wave action along the coast. The National Park Service warned visitors not to approach the site.

Officials said the area was unstable and presented a serious risk from falling rock and cliffs. The warning followed photographs shared on social media that appeared to show people entering the closed area near the former arch. The park service said those visitors were placing themselves and first responders at risk of falling and drowning.

The Holei Sea Arch was formed about 550 years ago. Its name comes from a small endemic plant in the milkweed family. The collapse changes a popular scenic feature of the national park, but the agency’s immediate concern is visitor safety around the exposed and unstable coastline.

The report does not say whether anyone was injured in the collapse or whether the park has announced a timetable for reopening the area. The National Park Service’s warning indicates that visitors should respect closures and remain away from the site while the coastal cliffs and surrounding ground remain hazardous.