A scenic cliff on the wave-battered coast of Hawaii’s Big Island has collapsed, the National Park Service said. The Holei Sea Arch, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was about 90 feet tall before collapsing sometime between September 23 and 27, possibly when the park was temporarily closed during Hurricane Nolo. “The exact timing of the collapse is unknown and could have occurred when the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo,” the Hawaii National Volcano Service said. Park in a social media post. Nolo, which reached winds of 155 mph, passed over the Big Island of Hawaii and brought heavy rain and winds to the state last week. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the Trump administration approved an emergency declaration for Hawaii that will provide federal resources and assistance to the state in its recovery from Nolo. These photos provided by the USGS show, from left, the Hōlei Sea Arc in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 2022 and the Hōlei Sea Arc after collapsing into the Pacific Ocean on Sept. 27, 2026. USGS via AP In August, Hawaii was hit by Hurricane Lala, which destroyed about 100 homes, caused landslides and caused widespread power outages as it passed through Hawaii. However, it is not unexpected that it marks “the latest transformation of the park’s remote and rugged coastline,” the NPS said in a Facebook post. “This formation is beautiful, but temporary and has a limited lifespan,” NPS said. People who reacted to the post called it a sign that nature is taking its course. Park service officials warned visitors to stay away from the site as it is unstable and poses a serious fall hazard. “Photos on social media show people entering the closed area near where the sea arch once stood, putting themselves and lifeguards at great risk of falling and drowning,” the NPS said. The popular tourist site was formed about 550 years ago. The name Holei comes from a small endemic plant in the milkweed family. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in:
