Famous 550-year-old lava rock arch in Hawaii falls into the Pacific Ocean

Hawaii's famous Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean after standing for about 550 years. The 90-foot-tall lava rock structure crumbled away from the coast of Volcanoes National Park.

Details

The exact time of the fall is not known. The arch was still standing on 23 September, but it was gone by 27 September, according to the National Park Service. Officials believe it fell when the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo last weekend. The coastline near the arch had shown signs of instability for years. Earthquakes during the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse had damaged the nearby cliffs. Officials closed the original viewing area in January 2020 due to new cracks, and opened a safer viewing area a few months later. Waves from a tropical storm later that year also broke off a piece of rock from the bottom of the arch. The formation was located at the end of Chain of Craters Road on the island of Hawaii, also known as the big island, and served as a popular tourist spot.

Context

Natural coastal landmarks like sea arches are constantly worn down by wind, powerful ocean waves, and tectonic activity over time. Volcanic islands such as Hawaii are especially prone to dramatic landscape changes because of ongoing seismic activity and coastal erosion.