Full Breakdown
Holei Sea Arch Collapses After Centuries of Erosion
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Collapse of the 90-Foot Holei Sea Arch
The iconic Holei Sea Arch in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park was still standing on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, when the park closed temporarily for Tropical Storm Nolo. By Sunday night, September 27, 2026, the 90-foot (27 m) basalt formation had collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. The National Park Service confirmed the exact moment of failure is unknown and may have occurred while the park remained closed.
Background & Context
Formed roughly 550 years ago by an ancient lava flow, the arch illustrated differential erosion—softer rock wearing away faster than harder basalt. Over the past decade the coastline showed increasing instability:
- 2018 – Earthquakes and the summit collapse of Kilauea damaged the cliffs flanking the arch.
- January 2020 – Cracks prompted NPS to close the original viewing area at the end of Chain of Craters Road.
- July 2020 – Massive surf from Tropical Storm Darby broke off a chunk of rock from the lower arch.
Data & Statistics
- Height: 90 feet (27 m).
- Formation age: ? 550 years.
- Closure dates surrounding the collapse: September 23–27, 2026 for Tropical Storm Nolo.
Official Statements & Responses
The NPS issued a release on October 1, 2026, confirming the arch’s collapse and urging visitors to stay away from the unstable coastal cliff edges, which drop vertically into the ocean and pose a serious falling hazard. The release noted the possibility that the arch fell during the storm-related closure but did not attribute the failure to any specific weather condition.
On-the-Ground Reports
Visitors who arrived after the park reopened reported an empty space where the arch once stood. One traveler, Fahad Shaon, said the cliffs remain “really awesome,” and the drive is still worthwhile even without the arch. Social-media posts showed people entering the closed-off zone, prompting safety warnings from park authorities.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Timing – NPS and outlets agree the arch was intact on September 23 and gone by September 27, but the precise moment remains unknown.
- Cause – Some reports suggest the collapse may have occurred during Tropical Storm Nolo; the NPS has not confirmed storm-related damage as the trigger.
- Public communication – The park announced the loss on social media on Wednesday and again after reopening on Monday, September 28, 2026, leading to brief uncertainty among visitors about when the arch fell.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Photos on social media show people entering the closed area near where the sea arch once stood, putting themselves and first responders at great risk of falling and drowning off the rough, wave-swept coast,” — Sunday. HVNP
- “Visitors are required to stay out of closed areas and away from cliff edges which are unstable and can collapse without warning,” — Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
- “The cliffs are really awesome. Even if without the sea arch, I think it's worth the drive, and it's worth spending some moments (here),” — Fahad Shaon