HONOLULU– A Grand Canyon river rafting guide who aspired to become the first American woman to paddle solo across the mid-Pacific completed an unprecedented journey from California to Hawaii.

Hundreds of people gathered to cheer on Kelsey Pfendler as she arrived at Honolulu Harbor Friday night in her 21-foot rowboat, Lily, after nearly a month and a half at sea, local media reported.

Pfendler, who took off from Monterey, California, in May, set out to become the first American woman, the youngest woman and the fastest woman to make the more than 2,400-mile trip alone, according to her website. Hundreds of thousands of people followed her journey on social media, where she shared the ups, downs and quirks of her journey in videos taken as she bobbed alone in the vast ocean.

Pfendler appears to have broken both the previous women’s speed record and the men’s speed record, according to records maintained by Ocean Rowing Society International, which adjudicates ocean rowing achievements for Guinness World Records. The organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press about Pfendler’s end.

The rowing society’s online records showed Saturday morning that Pfendler finished in just under 44 days, faster than the previous comparable women’s record holder’s 86 days or the men’s record holder’s 52 days as recorded by both the society and Guinness World Records.

Pfendler’s video diaries explained the logistics of his journey and survival in the ocean. He detailed challenges including blisters on his hands, the struggle to sleep in strong winds, and the physical and mental struggle of dealing with sometimes unfavorable currents and winds. She explained how she cooked, protected her skin from the sun, washed her clothes, and made fresh water.

In some videos, his voice broke with emotion. In others, he poked fun at his own forehead tan line and joked about the importance of his caffeine pills.

Pfendler’s website says he has been a professional raft guide since he was 18 and has spent the last eight years leading trips along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

“I love boats in the middle of nowhere,” he said in a video.

Local media reported that Pfendler was expected to eventually address the media. An interview request emailed to Pfendler’s team was not immediately returned.

In a recent video posted as he approached Oahu, he reflected on the significance of his accomplishment and what he hoped others would learn from it.

“If any part of this made even one person feel a little more powerful in their own skin, I couldn’t ask for anything more and I’m happy,” she said. “Think about trying to find your own big, hard, scary thing. You may not think you’re strong enough to finish it right now, but you’re definitely strong enough to start it, and you’ll find everything else along the way. I’m going to finish my big, hard, scary thing.”