The Aporia
The Aporia
The Associated Press. (2026, October 3). A famed Hawaii sea arch collapses, prompting NPS warnings of unstable cliffs. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/a-famed-hawaii-sea-arch-collapses-prompting-nps-warnings-of-unstable-cliffs/article_f79354d0-da5b-5759-b490-377291be1a87.html
The Associated Press. “A famed Hawaii sea arch collapses, prompting NPS warnings of unstable cliffs.” Toronto Star, 3 Oct. 2026, https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/a-famed-hawaii-sea-arch-collapses-prompting-nps-warnings-of-unstable-cliffs/article_f79354d0-da5b-5759-b490-377291be1a87.html.
The Associated Press. “A famed Hawaii sea arch collapses, prompting NPS warnings of unstable cliffs.” Toronto Star, October 3, 2026. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/a-famed-hawaii-sea-arch-collapses-prompting-nps-warnings-of-unstable-cliffs/article_f79354d0-da5b-5759-b490-377291be1a87.html.
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The Hōlei Sea Arch, a 550-year-old lava rock formation standing at approximately 90 feet tall in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, collapsed into the Pacific Ocean sometime between September 23 and September 27, likely during Tropical Storm Nolo. The arch was still visible as of September 23 but had disappeared by September 27 when the park reopened. This collapse marks a significant loss to the region's natural wonders and tourist attractions, with thousands of people expressing grief on social media platforms like Facebook and Google Maps marking it as "permanently closed." Despite its beauty, experts warned that the arch's instability was anticipated due to ongoing erosion from waves and earthquakes caused by the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption. The National Park Service has issued warnings about unstable cliffs near the former site of the sea arch, urging visitors to stay back for safety reasons.
