Hawaii's Hōlei Sea Arch, 550-Year-Old Lava Rock Formation, Collapses in National Park

The Hōlei Sea Arch, a significant 550-year-old lava rock structure, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park confirmed that the arch, which stood 27.4 metres (90 feet) high, eroded naturally over the past weekend. Its disappearance marks a permanent alteration to the park's coastline.

Formed from cooled lava flows, the arch was a distinctive feature of the Kīlauea volcano's southern coast. Its formation was a gradual process spanning centuries, as waves continuously eroded the softer rock beneath a harder lava cap. Park authorities reported no injuries or unusual activity preceding the collapse, underscoring it as a natural geological event. Despite its disappearance, other volcanic and geological formations continue to attract visitors to the national park, which encompasses the active Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes.