Hawaii's iconic 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch collapses
Hawaii's 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch in Volcanoes National Park has collapsed, likely during a temporary closure due to a tropical storm.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Hawaii's famous 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed.
- The National Park Service confirmed it vanished between Sept 23 and 27.
- The collapse likely occurred during a park closure amid a tropical storm.
- Nearby cliffs were previously damaged by the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption.
The iconic 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch located off the coast of Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii has collapsed, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The natural rock formation was still projecting into the water on September 23, but was completely gone by September 27.
Situated at the end of Chain of Craters Road on the island of Hawaii, widely known as "the big island," the formation served as a highly popular and heavily photographed tourist destination. The NPS noted in a statement that the coastline flanking the sea arch had shown signs of instability for years, prompting a warning back in 2021 that the structure would eventually crumble.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Park officials believe the arch fell when the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo over the weekend. Earthquakes stemming from the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse had previously damaged the cliffs situated near the rock formation.
The disappearance of the Hōlei Sea Arch highlights the fragile and dynamic nature of coastal landscapes shaped by active volcanism and aggressive wave erosion in Hawaii. Such events underscore the ongoing difficulties faced by park management in balancing public tourism access with the unpredictable hazards of geological and meteorological changes.
In January 2020, newly formed cracks and instability prompted the park to shut down the original viewing area, replacing it with a safer designated viewpoint a few months later. Later that same year, waves generated by a tropical storm broke off a chunk of rock from the base of the arch.
Thousands of social media users have since interacted with the NPS post regarding the collapse, sharing heartfelt memories of visiting the landmark alongside their personal photographs.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment