Hawaii Sea Arch Collapses, Prompts Warnings on Coastal Instability
The Holei Sea Arch in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park fell into the ocean, prompting the National Park Service to caution visitors about the dangers of unstable cliffs.
A prominent sea arch on Hawaii's Big Island, known as the Holei Sea Arch, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The natural formation, situated within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, stood approximately 90 feet high before its disappearance sometime between September 23 and September 27.
The collapse was not entirely unexpected, as the NPS described it as the "latest transformation of the park’s remote and rugged coastline." Social media reactions from the public acknowledged the event as a natural process.
Park officials have issued stern warnings to the public, urging them to avoid the area due to significant falling hazards. The NPS noted that some individuals were observed entering closed sections near the former arch site, placing themselves and potential first responders at risk of falling and drowning.
The Holei Sea Arch was formed around 550 years ago. The name "Holei" is derived from a small, native plant species belonging to the milkweed family.