Holei Sea Arch
Holei Sea Arch
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
622 reviews
Excellent
359
Very good
199
Average
54
Poor
6
Terrible
4
pfefmeister
San Francisco, CA4,373 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
This is the endpoint for the Chain of Craters Road. It’s a .2 mile walk to a viewpoint which looks back into an eroded sea stack much in the distance. Living in Northern California, I did not find it to be anything special or unique. But, it is a small investment for those who don’t live near to the ocean. At least, it was better weather down along the coast!
Written February 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ady392
Los Angeles, CA261 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
You really DO NOT want to drive one hour and then walk 2 miles under the scorching sun to realize that the attraction you came for does not exist anymore. That’s right, the lava interrupting the road has been excavated, and no one had bothered to notify tourists, so when you get to the parking lot after driving south one hour to see just this you will walk on a concrete road for a good 25 minutes and then find a pebble road and keep walking for another 15 minutes before realizing that this road is endless because it’s the highway being rebuilt, and the government torn down the tourist attraction you have been seeking. I think it’s outrageous how little respect the government of Hawaii shows tourists given its their major form of income, considering there is no signage alerting people of closures and length of trails, no signal so it’s impossible to call anybody in case of an emergency and it’s incredibly hard to find the points of interests. My husband and I have visited most national parks in the US and the volcano park in big island is by far the most disappointing and less worth it if national parks. The Holei sea arch is laughable. The “scenic drive” looks exactly like all the rest of the island. The services offered are terrible. It’s hard even to find gas so make sure you don’t find yourself stranded mid-park. Horrible. I will never ever be coming back.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John E
Edison, NJ231 contributions
Mar 2022
A must visit place in Big Island, Hawai. Unique sea arch formed by the lava flow. In fact the whole sea shore is created as if of lava!
The road feels like you are driving between the lava flow !
The road feels like you are driving between the lava flow !
Written April 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
County-Hunter
Tacoma, WA3,742 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
It takes about 45 minutes to drive from the visitor center to the end of the Chain of Craters Road where the arch is. But more than likely, you are going to drive at least part of the road to get to the popular lava tubes so the extra time required to drive out and back isn't that bad. When you get to the end, you still have a 10 minute walk to get to the viewing platform. You aren't that close to the arch but I could use the zoom on my iPhone for some pretty decent pics.
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
4 contributions
Jan 2020
Chain of Craters Road will not disappoint. Drive all the way to the Holei Sea Arch without stopping - save your stops for the way back. This strategy allows you to get a feel for the vast, varied landscape before you dive in to specific attractions.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward
Santa Rosa, CA3,124 contributions
Jun 2023
The Holei Sea Arch is at the end of the Chain of Craters Road. The drive ends at a parking area with toilets amongst the lava flows at the edge of the shore. There is a short walk to the area where you are allowed to walk out to a spot overlooking the shore, with the waves crashing against the lava-rock cliff. Along it is the Holei Sea Arch. It is fairly small and not easy to get a good picture of since the current viewing area is not that close to the arch itself. The Chain of Craters Road has, in the decades since built, been several times closed or partly closed due to lava flows, and the older viewing area remains can be seen on the walk, having been largely destroyed by lava.
Written August 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Snedra
35 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
The drive down the road was an adventure and incredible view all on its own. Pack a sandwich to eat with a view at the sea arch (and leave no trace behind!). Bring a hair tie - the wind was intense! The sea arch is actually pretty cool. You can also walk a little further up the trail to a palm tree grove that is just in the middle of all of the lava fields right on the ocean.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ticoalra
Jefferson, MD301 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Nice parking area. Short walk to view the sea arch. Bathrooms on site. It was a nice place to stretch our legs after driving the Chain of Craters Road from Volcano before we turned around and went back up.
Written July 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,749 contributions
Mar 2023
We thought that the Holei Sea Arch was the best part of the Chain of Craters Road. It is really quite a spectacular ending to this scenic road. There is a short walk of about 1000 feet from the parking area at the end of the road to the viewpoint. It's worth the walk.
There are restrooms here; always good to know,
There are restrooms here; always good to know,
Written April 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron R
Saint Paul, MN109 contributions
May 2023
45 minute drive from visitor center with many sights along the way. Approximately 1/2 mile walk from parking to the arch view. Fun to see but to us not as interesting as the other park sites.
Written May 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi There,
I'm staying in Waimea. How long of a drive is it to the arch? What is the best time of day is best to visit?
Thank you
Written April 22, 2016
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