Hawaii’s centuries-old sea arch collapses into Pacific after series of rough storms

Hlei sea arch, formed 550 years ago by erosion from ocean waves, no longer standing, National Park Service confirms

A famed centuries-old sea arch on Hawaii's remote and rugged coastline has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean, the National Park Service confirmed on Friday, following a stretch of rough storms in the region in recent weeks.

The beloved landmark, Hlei sea arch, stood at around 90ft high for over half a millennium in Hawaii's Volcanoes national park, located on the dramatic southern coast of the Big Island. It was naturally formed around 550 years ago due to differential erosion by ocean waves.