Hawaii's iconic 500-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed into the sea - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crd6dy4xepgyo)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crd6dy4xepgyo)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crd6dy4xepgyo)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crd6dy4xepgyo)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcrd6dy4xepgyo)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (crd6dy4xepgyo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada           Hawaii's iconic 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch collapses       (Side-by-side comparison of sea arch standing over the ocean, compared to a view of the rocky cliffs without the arch)    Image source,  NPS Photo/Janice Wei      By Grace Eliza Goodwin     Published 1 hour ago           Hawaii's famous Hōlei Sea Arch, a 90-foot-tall (27.4m) lava rock structure that formed about 550 years ago, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean.  The collapse's exact time is not known. The arch was still projecting into the water from the coast of Volcanoes National Park on 23 September, but was gone by 27 September, the National Park Service (NPS) said. "The coastline flanking the sea arch has shown signs of instability for years," NPS, which warned in 2021 that the arch would eventually crumble, said in a statement. Located at the end of Chain of Craters Road on the island of Hawaii, also called "the big island", the formation was a popular - and heavily photographed - tourist destination. The arch is believed to have fallen when the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo last weekend. The park service said earthquakes during the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption and summit collapse had damaged the cliffs near the arch. Its ultimate collapse marks "the latest transformation of the park's remote and rugged coastline". In January 2020, new cracks and instability in the cliffs led the park to close the original arch viewing area, and a few months later, a new viewing area opened at a safer distance, NPS said.  Waves from a tropical storm later that year broke off a chunk of rock from the bottom of the arch.  "This formation is beautiful, but temporary, and has a limited life span," the park service said in 2021. "The sea arch will eventually crumble into the sea. However, others will replace it as the cliff slowly migrates inland." Thousands of people have liked and commented on the NPS social media post about the arch's collapse, including sharing their memories of visiting the arch and posting photos of it. "Nothing and no one is here forever," one Facebook user commented. "Millions of years from now the sun will die. Appreciate the good, the beauty, now."     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/crr7mlg0vw5t) Hawaii  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/ce735z774grt) Pacific Ocean  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c340r9zgpnkt) Volcanoes  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/ckd09zdlvk2t) Nature        More on this story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/crl7ge7j3zwo) Watch: How does El Niño affect world weather?     Published 21 August          ((Left) BBC Weather presenter Ben Rich, (right) three people covering their heads with umbrellas.)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lqpvv1wlxo) Guatemala volcano eruption sends lava spewing into the air     Published 4 August          (A screengrab taken from CCTV footage at nighttime shows lava bursting from the crater of the Fuego volcano)                (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:22 Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris. 00:01:22, play video Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris    (A group of protestors on the street burning a bike and bin.)           0:42 Polanski calls for three-year cap on rents. 00:00:42, play video Polanski calls for three-year cap on rents    (Green Party leader Zack Polanski wearing a green suit jacket and a white top.)           0:47 Olivia Dean accused of copying song Just the Two of Us. 00:00:47, play video Olivia Dean accused of copying song Just the Two of Us    (Olivia Dean smiles at a red carpet)           1:28 Biggest The Celebrity Traitors slip-up ever? 00:01:28, play video Biggest The Celebrity Traitors slip-up ever?    (A woman with black hair and a heavy fringe looks at someone off-camera)           1:01 ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC? 00:01:01, play video ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC?    (Two women sit together, one holds a microphone)           1:32 Is UK politics 'boomer-centric'? 00:01:32, play video Is UK politics 'boomer-centric'?    (A woman with long, light brown hair looks at someone off-camera.)           1:23 Masked men brutally attack cryptocurrency investor and wife. 00:01:23, play video Masked men brutally attack cryptocurrency investor and wife    (Two people running into a home front door as seen by home security CCTV. The men are entirely covered in black and blue outfits, hoods, gloves and masks.)           0:38 Ferguson on recovery from brain haemorrhage. 00:00:38, play video Ferguson on recovery from brain haemorrhage    (Sir Alex Ferguson)           1:44 Two pals, a missing top and the ultimate 25-year prank. 00:01:44, play video Two pals, a missing top and the ultimate 25-year prank    (An image of two middle aged men holding a green and white Celtic football strip in a kitchen. They both have beards and short dark hair.)           1:23 How Gen Z TikToks are shaping Kenyan politics. 00:01:23, play video How Gen Z TikToks are shaping Kenyan politics    (A man speaking into a microphone and holding a flag)           1:45 Pilot hailed as a hero after Flydubai flight attack. 00:01:45, play video Pilot hailed as a hero after Flydubai flight attack    (A man with short dark hair and a short beard wearing glasses and a white shirt smiles at the camera)           0:54 Dog rescued from squalid conditions finds new home. 00:00:54, play video Dog rescued from squalid conditions finds new home    (A number of brown and white spaniel dogs in 'squalid' conditions in a home.)           1:05 Prison conditions are 'awful', says released man. 00:01:05, play video Prison conditions are 'awful', says released man    (A former prisoner in a grey sweatshirt and glasses)           0:55 Rollercoaster closed after over 100 allege brain injuries. 00:00:55, play video Rollercoaster closed after over 100 allege brain injuries    (A black, high and windy rollercoaster, X2, which has now been closed down)           1:15 What we know about Christa Pike's failed execution. 00:01:15, play video What we know about Christa Pike's failed execution    (Christa Pike has long auburn hair. She is standing in front of a height chart and holding up a sign with an identifying number.)           1:12 Why has Ronaldo walked out of Portugal camp? 00:01:12, play video Why has Ronaldo walked out of Portugal camp?    (Cristiano Ronaldo staring into the distance. He is wearing a red Portugal top.)           0:54 New 'R' plates for recently qualified drivers in NI. 00:00:54, play video New 'R' plates for recently qualified drivers in NI    (New blue R plate on grey car)           0:59 What makes you socially anxious? 00:00:59, play video What makes you socially anxious?    (A young woman with nose piercings, blue jeans, and a black top speaking into a BBC branded microphone, looking like she's in conversation)           0:38 AJ reassures fans that Fury fight will happen... 00:00:38, play video AJ reassures fans that Fury fight will happen...    (Anthony Joshua)           1:01 Which prisoners are being released in new scheme and when? 00:01:01, play video Which prisoners are being released in new scheme and when?    (An overhead view of HMP Doncaster aerial photo of walls and barbed wire)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv1j3lgrl6gko) Widdecombe suspect charged with planning terror act against Farage     Published 44 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck87zg8jnwngo) G7 to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel after Trump export ban threat     Published 1 hour ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c6m2d3mpm7r8o) Watch: Why has UK diesel price hit an all time high?     Published 5 hours ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck1l6zvr9gdgo) What's really going on with the lymphatic drainage beauty trend videos?      (A head and shoulders photo of Abbey Alexandra with long dark curly hair facing the camera wearing a white vest top with her fingertips touching her collarbones)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm89j9024k7po) Chaos, coffins and 'Claudiapatra' steal the show in Celebrity Traitors      (Claudia Winkleman emerging from a coffin)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cwe8e8jpnpy5o)    Cornell students voice frustration at public hearing over rape case. Video Cornell students voice frustration at public hearing over rape case           (Two female students with Cornell University’s ACLU, a student organization that advocates for civil rights, address the student assembly on Sexual Violence held at Cornell University. They are speaking in to microphones at a red coloured table)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckge4eql4q7eo) What happened in the failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?      (Christa Pike enters a courtroom in 2007)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm8e3e5k2010o) Weekly quiz: How did two champions fight over marathon dates for next year's London races?      (Close-up of London Marathon medal being held by a smiling woman)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c6rr4r704en4o)    Watch: Endangered moths swarming Australia's east coast. Video Watch: Endangered moths swarming Australia's east coast           (Composite image of BBC journalist Helen Livingstone standing in front of trees outside and a swarm of bogong moths the the corner of a wall)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvwyz0jx3znyo) Ferguson 'terrified' before 'fantastic' return to Man Utd after brain haemorrhage      (Sir Alex Ferguson claps)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3lyr5lpp5l4o) Farming award joy for teen inspired by late grandad      (Smiling teenage boy with blond hair next to a black calf)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zgmn46f) US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter      (A cut of of Anthony Zurcher wearing a suit and tie in front of a red, black, grey and blue graphic background featuring the US Capitol Building)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0030pxt?at_mid=fVKv6oxdm6&at_campaign=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002csng&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) A new group of celebrities have entered the castle        (The Celebrity Traitors S2)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8swm?at_mid=aB53RLwLhQ&at_campaign=The_Food_Chain_How_to_eat_for_success_on_weight_loss_drugs&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p028z2z0&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Food_Chain_How_to_eat_for_success_on_weight_loss_drugs&at_bbc_team=BBC) How to change your diet if you are taking weight-loss drugs        (The Food Chain)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006m8dq/strictly-come-dancing?at_mid=OMNBokELus&at_campaign=Strictly_Come_Dancing_TLEO&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=b006m8dq&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Strictly_Come_Dancing_TLEO&at_bbc_team=BBC) Get your dancing shoes ready for Movie Week        (Strictly Come Dancing S24)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mylrrz?at_mid=MAVDKvDNl9&at_campaign=Whats_Up_Docs_Doctors_Notes_Focus&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=m00298p7&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Whats_Up_Docs_Doctors_Notes_Focus&at_bbc_team=BBC) Drs Chris and Xand explore the impacts of having ADHD        (What's Up Docs?)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv1j3lgrl6gko) Widdecombe suspect charged with planning terror act against Farage       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c60rlwgx9n9go) Alison Hammond has heart check-up in hospital after rushing off This Morning while on air       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3kgqw7zvz47o) US murderer Christa Pike unconscious and on ventilator after failed execution, lawyers say       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck87zg8jnwngo) G7 to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel after Trump export ban threat       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmreydzjdrqeo) 'Cult' priest guilty of rape and assault of women       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqd095e5x127o) Daniel Thomas in court accused of entering migrant site       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6wyv44y4ywjo) Intensified Russian strikes are tearing Kyiv apart, warns mayor       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx29nke55kno) Men charged over alleged plot to target Manchester Jewish community       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d949gq47x9o) I've seen nearly 500 executions - but never one like Christa Pike's       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck3r5dxxwqzpo) Riot police clash with students as education protests rage in France               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()