Hōlei Sea Arch

Chain of Craters Road Tour - Stop #9

 

Hōlei Sea Arch Viewing Area Near the End of Chain of Craters Road

NPS Photo

 

Hōlei Sea Arch - click for high resolution photo

NPS / S. Geiger

Hōlei = a small endemic plant in the milkweed family (Ochrosia).

At the end of Chain of Craters road, there is a short trail to the ocean and the Hōlei Sea Arch. At present, the sea arch is about 90 ft. (27.4 meters) high. The creation of this sea arch was within the last 100 years.

This beautiful formation has a limited life span. The sea arch will eventually crumble and will no longer be a feature of the park. However, another will replace it as the cliff slowly migrates inland.

 

Hōlei Sea Arch With Viewing Area Above - click for high resolution photo

NPS / S. Geiger

This impressive sea arch was cut into the cliff of an ancient lava flow, about 550 years ago. The term used in the creation of this sea arch is "differential erosion", which is the difference in the hardness of various layers of lava flow.

 

		Distance From the Beginning of Chain of Craters Road	Distance From Kīlauea Visitor Center
Stop #1	Lua Manu Crater	0.5 mi / 0.8 km	3.8 mi / 6.1 km
Stop #2	Hilina Pali Road ~Currently Closed~	2.3 mi / 3.7 km	5.6 mi / 9.0 km
Stop #3	Pauahi Crater	3.3 mi / 5.3 km	6.6 mi / 10.6 km
Stop #4	Mauna Ulu	3.7 mi / 6.0 km	7.0 mi / 11.3 km
Stop #5	Mauna Ulu Flow Across Chain of Craters Road	4.1 mi / 6.6 km	7.4 mi / 11.9 km
Stop #6	Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu	6.4 mi / 10.3 km	9.7 mi / 15.6 km
Stop #7	Kealakomo Overlook	9.9 mi / 15.9 km	13.2 mi / 21.2 km
Stop #8	Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs	16.3 mi / 26.2 km	19.6 mi / 31.5 km
Stop #9	Hōlei Sea Arch	18.8 mi / 30.3 km	22.1 mi / 35.6 km
Stop #10	End of Chain of Craters Road	18.8 mi / 30.3 km	22.1 mi / 35.6 km

 

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