HONOLULU, Hawaii: A man from Oregon, Oliver Widger, has arrived in Hawaii after sailing across the ocean with his cat, Phoenix.

He quit his job at a tire company and used all of his retirement savings to follow his dream of sailing. Over the weekend, he was warmly welcomed at the Waikiki Yacht Club on Oahu by fans and even Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green.

Widger looked nervous as he faced the cheering crowd and reporters. He said he felt strange—not seasick, but like he needed to hold onto something so he wouldn't fall over.

His journey became very popular online. Four years ago, Widger was diagnosed with a medical condition that could lead to paralysis. This made him realize he didn't like his job and wanted to change his life. He quit, even though he had no money, no plan, and was $10,000 in debt. His goal was to buy a sailboat and travel around the world.

He taught himself how to sail by watching YouTube videos and moved from Portland to the Oregon coast. He bought a US$50,000 boat and spent months fixing it up before leaving for Hawaii in late April. Along the way, he shared videos and updates with more than one million TikTok followers and 1.7 million on Instagram.

Widger believes many people related to his story. "People work hard every day and still struggle," he said. "The world is in a strange place, and I think people saw that it's possible to break free and do something different."

Governor Green gave Widger an official certificate, and fans gathered around him after the event to take selfies and videos.

The most dangerous part of the trip was when the rudder broke. Some of the best moments included seeing dolphins, whales, and calm, glassy ocean waters. "Being out there with water like glass all around was an unreal feeling," he said.

Widger, who is 29, said he didn't feel completely alone during the trip because he could talk to friends through video calls and messages. But he also thought he didn't fully experience the ocean in the way older sailors did—those who had no internet connection, like Starlink.

He's now thinking about sailing to French Polynesia but says he was focused mainly on reaching Hawaii. First, though, he needs to repair his boat.