On July 4, 2026, Kelsey Pfendler, 34, rowed into Honolulu harbor after traveling nearly 2,400 miles alone from California. She became the first American woman to make this crossing, and she did it faster than anyone else — man or woman — who has ever tried the same route. Her journey took 43 days and about 18 hours. She left Monterey on May 21 and arrived in Hawaii 44 days later. AP News reported that hundreds of people came to the harbor to greet her.

Pfendler rowed a small 21-foot boat called Lily, You Row Kelsey. According to the Ocean Rowing Society International — the official record-keeper for ocean rowing — she holds the outright speed record, beating every time recorded before, regardless of gender. KCRA and Outside Online confirmed the achievement.

The path from California to Hawaii is one of the hardest in ocean rowing. Rowers have to understand ocean wind and current patterns well enough to use them for speed — think of riding the current like a cyclist rides downhill. But if you time it wrong, you fight strong headwinds and can barely move for days. The route is shorter than some Atlantic crossings that get more attention, but it requires more skill to read the weather.

Few people have attempted this specific route, which means records can change more quickly. But that does not make the crossing any easier. Pfendler's time of under 44 days will now be the time every future rower on this route will try to beat. She has been featured on ABC News, AP, and Good Morning America. You can follow her on Instagram at @yourowkelsey.