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| Insider Paper |
HAWAII, USA—One of Hawaii's most emblematic natural landscapes has vanished after more than five centuries in the Pacific Ocean. Hōlei Sea Arch, a massive volcanic rock formation located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, collapsed and fell into the ocean.
The arch, approximately 90 feet (27 meters) tall, was formed
about 550 years ago from ancient lava flows. For centuries, waves gradually
eroded the rock, creating the dramatic opening that made the site one of the
most recognizable landmarks on the Big Island's coast.
The National Park Service reported that the arch was still
standing on September 23, but by the night of September 27, it had disappeared.
The exact time of the collapse is unknown and may have occurred while the park
was closed due to Tropical Storm Nolo.
Although the collapse surprised visitors and admirers of the
site, authorities had warned for years that the formation was temporary.
Differential erosion—which wears away weaker layers of rock more quickly—had
been progressively weakening the arch.
The area had also suffered damage related to volcanic
activity and weather events. Earthquakes associated with the 2018 eruption of
Kīlauea affected nearby cliffs, while in 2020, the powerful waves from Tropical
Storm Darby dislodged part of the structure.
Now, where the Hōlei Sea Arch stood for generations, there
remains a coastline transformed by the same natural forces that created the
formation.
The national park asked visitors to stay away from the
cliffs, as the terrain remains unstable and could collapse without warning.