PHOTOS: Solar-Powered Plane Lands in Honolulu

A record-setting adventure to circumnavigate the globe using only the sun for power touches down in Hawaii.

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Civil Beat photographer Cory Lum was among the journalists who gathered at Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei early Friday morning to document the arrival of the Solar Impulse 2, the experimental aircraft powered only by the ray’s of the sun.

The plane touched down just before 6 a.m. after a record five-day, 4,000 mile flight from Japan. It was the latest leg of an around-the-world flight that began in Abu Dhabi in March.

Pilot Andre Borschberg, flying solo, left Japan on Sunday after being delayed by bad weather.

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Kalaeloa Airport after record 5 day flight over Pacific Ocean from Nagoya, Japan. Andre Borschberg flew Solar Impulse 2 across the Pacific as part of that team's effort at circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered craft. Solar Impulse 2 arrives at Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei . Hawaii. 3 july 2015. photograph Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Kalaeloa Airport early Friday morning. Pilot Andre Borschberg’s 120-hour flight broke the record for longest nonstop solo flight.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Read more about the adventure and the goal of Solar Impulse 2’s flight here (HuffPost Hawaii), here (AP) and here (Popular Science). And check out the cool photos from the journey so far here.

The latest pictures from Honolulu are below. Cory Lum and other journalists staked out the West Oahu airport beginning at 3 a.m. to make sure they were on hand for the historic landing.

About 200 people eventually gathered to watch the plane touch down, including Nainoa Thompson, navigator of the Hokulea which is making its own round-the-world trip only by sea, and state Sen. Mike Gabbard, a champion of renewable energy efforts in Hawaii.

According to an Associated Press story, Borschberg called the flight an extraordinary experience, saying it marked historical firsts for aviation and for renewable energy.

“Nobody now can say that renewable energies cannot do the impossible,” he said.

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Kalaeloa Airport after record 5 day flight over Pacific Ocean from Nagoya, Japan. Andre Borschberg flew Solar Impulse 2 across the Pacific as part of that team's effort at circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered craft. Solar Impulse 2 arrives at Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei . Hawaii. 3 july 2015. photograph Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Solar Impulse 2 on its early morning approach to Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Solar Impulse 2 touches down at Kalaeloa Airport after record 5 day flight over Pacific Ocean from Nagoya, Japan. Andre Borschberg flew Solar Impulse 2 across the Pacific as part of that team's effort at circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered craft. Solar Impulse 2 arrives at Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei . Hawaii. 3 july 2015. photograph Cory Lphotograph Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Pilot Andre Borschberg taxis the revolutionary sun-powered craft. The plane, with a top speed of about 90 miles per hour, averaged about 40 mph during the flight, according to HuffPost Hawaii. For comparison, a Boeing 777, with a top speed of around 600 mph, can make the same trip in about 8.5 hours.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Solar Impulse 2 pilots left, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg celebrate on arrival annd touchdown after leaving Nagoya, Japan. Borschberg piloted the solar aircraft across the Pacific as part of that team's effort at circumnavigating the globe in a solar-powered craft. Solar Impulse 2 arrives at Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei . Hawaii. 3 july 2015. photograph Cory Lum

Borschberg, right, clebrates his landing after sitting in the cockpit for nearly 120 hours over five days. At left is pilot Bertrand Piccard who has been alternating flying the plane with Borschberg since the round-the-world trip began in March. Next stop: Phoenix, Arizona.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

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