HONOLULU – An Oregon resident took a leap of faith, leaving his job at a tire company and cashing in his retirement funds to embark on a voyage to Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix. On Saturday, he arrived at his destination, welcomed by enthusiastic supporters after sharing his adventure over several weeks on social media.
Oliver Widger, upon his arrival at Oahu’s Waikiki Yacht Club, was also warmly received by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. Facing an audience which included journalists, Widger shared his feelings of unease, describing it as feeling “really strange” – not seasick; more like needing to “hold on to things to not fall over.”
His journey captivated online audiences, inspired by his story that began with a health diagnosis four years ago, posing a paralysis risk, and a growing dissatisfaction with his managerial role. He decided to abandon his career with “no money, no plan,” and $10,000 in debt, setting his sights on purchasing a sailboat and setting sail around the world.
He taught himself to sail mostly via YouTube and moved from Portland to the Oregon coast. He spent months refitting the $50,000 boat he bought.
He set sail for Hawaii with Phoenix in late April, documenting their experiences for his more than 1 million followers on TikTok and 1.7 million followers on Instagram. He said he thinks his story, which made national news, resonated with people.
“I think a lot of people are, you know, you’re grinding at your job all day long and it doesn’t really matter how much money you make at this point, everybody’s just trying to do enough to get by and that just wears you out,” he said. “It’s just the world’s in a weird place, and I think people have seen that it’s possible to break out.”
Green presented Widger with a proclamation. Fans swarmed Widger after the news conference, many holding cameras and seeking selfies.
The scariest point of the trip came when a rudder failed, Widger said. Highlights included seeing dolphins and whales and periods of calm Pacific waters. “Being in the middle of the ocean when it was completely glass in every direction was an absurd feeling,” he said.
Widger, 29, said he never truly felt alone, since he was communicating with friends by means including video conference. But he also lamented not experiencing the open waters in a way that other sailors — who didn’t have access to tools like Starlink internet satellites — have in years before.
He said he may travel next to French Polynesia. But he said he had been focused on getting to Hawaii and not on what he’d do after that. He said he also needs to make repairs to his boat.
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