Kelsey Pfendler is on track to hit Honolulu’s Ala Wai Harbor this morning after a solo, unsupported row that began in Monterey on May 21. Her 24-foot boat, Lily, has been grinding across the mid-Pacific for weeks, and if she slides into the harbor on schedule, she could rewrite the record books for the route. Her team, local crews and the nonprofit she is rowing for are all on standby to clock her exact time and confirm what, on paper, could be a historic finish.
Arrival window and finish line
Pfendler’s team told KCRA they expect Lily to reach Ala Wai between 2 AM and 6 AM today, and urged the public not to contact maritime authorities unless there is a verified emergency. With the harbor entrance notoriously tricky in the dark, official confirmation of her time may lag behind the moment she actually ties up to the dock.
Departure, training and life on Lily
Pfendler pushed off from Monterey’s Breakwater Cove Marina on May 21 after months of boat preparation and training, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. She previously skippered a four-woman team along the same route in 2024, a crossing that took 40 days, 22 hours and 14 minutes, per Moneywise. Pfendler told the Chronicle she is drawn to the deep quiet of long crossings, saying, “I want to be in the middle of nowhere on a boat,” and she has been chronicling this attempt with short video diaries from the open ocean.
The record she’s chasing
Pfendler is aiming to become the first American woman to row solo from California to Hawaii and to beat the current women’s record of 86 days, 10 hours and 5 minutes set by Lia Ditton, a benchmark she cites on her campaign site. Her project page also features daily video diaries and a live tracker for Lily as she closes in on Oʻahu. Supporters can follow along at You Row Kelsey.
Fundraising and community ties
The crossing is also serving as a fundraiser for The Whale Foundation, a nonprofit that offers counseling, health-insurance stipends and other support for Grand Canyon river guides, according to the organization’s website. The Whale Foundation highlights Pfendler’s campaign and details the programs that incoming donations will sustain, underscoring that this row is about more than a record attempt.
How to follow and what to expect next
Pfendler’s team says online trackers and social updates will provide the first signs that she has officially finished. You can watch Lily’s position and her video diaries at You Row Kelsey. After she docks, Pfendler is expected to meet her support crew and representatives of The Whale Foundation, while reporters nail down the official timing that will determine whether this crossing goes into the books as a new women’s record.
