An Oregon man who quit his job at a tire company and liquidated his retirement savings to set sail for Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix, reached his destination on Saturday (local time), welcomed by cheering fans at the end of a weekslong journey that he documented.

Oliver Widger, who also was greeted by Hawaii Gov Josh Green at the Waikiki Yacht Club on Oahu, became an online sensation with his story, which followed a diagnosis four years ago with a syndrome that carried a risk of paralysis and made him realise he disliked his managerial job.