HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) – After 43 days alone at sea, an American rower has made history – and she did it for women everywhere.
Hundreds gathered along Magic Island and Ala Wai Boat Harbor in Honolulu to watch 32-year-old solo rower Kelsey Pfendler complete her record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii.
Pfendler rowed into the harbor shortly before 9 p.m. Friday aboard her 21-foot ocean rowing boat, Lily. She was greeted by a large, cheering crowd at the Hawaii Yacht Club.
Kelsey Pfendler, 32, made a solo rowing journey from California to Hawaii in just 43 days, shattering both the women’s and men’s records.(Kodiak Greenwood)
The 32-year-old was on a mission to become the youngest and fastest woman as well as the first American woman to make the more than 2,400-mile journey from Monterey, California, to Honolulu.
She did it in 43 days, shattering the previous women’s record of 86 days, 10 hours and five minutes, held by Lia Ditton — and she also broke the men’s record of 52 days.
“Accomplishing an amazing feat, you know? People ought to really give a lot of respect to a woman that can do that,” said Robert Hoffman, who was among the hundreds who gathered at Magic Island ahead of Pfendler’s arrival.
Pfendler began her trip May 21 and celebrated her 32nd birthday at sea.
Marco Gomez, of San Antonio, Texas, had been tracking Pfendler’s journey and couldn’t contain his excitement that a previously planned family vacation to Hawaii was happening at the same time as her arrival.
“I know she’s done it with other people, but she’s doing it by herself now. She’s been going out there, and that’s something that most people wouldn’t think of — that’s being alone out in the middle of the ocean coming over here,” Gomez said.
The anticipation and the crowd both grew as Pfendler was spotted off Diamond Head, rowing the final few miles to shore. The hundreds that were gathered burst into cheers as she slowly rowed past toward them.
“This is amazing girl power. So impressed with what Kelsey’s been able to do with everything that’s going on. Just so impressed,” Honolulu resident Amanda Wentz said.
Pfendler said on her Spotfund campaign her mission goes beyond rowing an ocean to inspiring women everywhere to recognize and embrace their strength.
“She’s just so inspirational. Actually, the last live post … she said for everybody who feels like they have something they can’t face, some fear, they can’t do it — I’m doing this for you,” resident Stacey McConlogue said.
Pfendler also took on the feat to raise funds and awareness for the Whale Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the mental, physical and financial well-being of the Grand Canyon river guiding community. So far, more than $30,000 has been donated to the nonprofit since she started her journey.
Click here to learn more about the Whale Foundation and to donate.
Pfendler is a veteran Grand Canyon river guide who’s been guiding multi-day trips to the Colorado River for eight years.
Her solo row is not the first time she’s crossed the Pacific, as she was the skipper of Hericane Rowing in 2024. She and four other women arrived on Kauai 40 days, 22 hours and 14 minutes after departing from California, battling huge waves, a capsizing, equipment failures and adverse currents.
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