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“Sailing with Phoenix,” Oregon man who quit job to sail with cat, arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii

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“Sailing with Phoenix,” Oregon man who quit job to sail with cat, arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii


Oliver Widger, 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 Saturday, welcomed by cheering fans at the end of a weekslong journey that he documented for his mass of followers on social media.

Widger, known online as “sailing_with_phoenix,” was also greeted by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green at the Waikiki Yacht Club on Oahu, acknowledged he was nervous facing the crowd, which included reporters. Widger said he was feeling “really weird” — not seasick, but, “I just feel like I have to, like, hold on to things to not fall over.”

He became an online sensation with his story, which followed a diagnosis four years ago with Klippel-Feil, a syndrome that carried a risk of paralysis and made him realize he disliked his managerial job. He quit his job with “no money, no plan” and $10,000 of debt — and the goal of buying a sailboat and sailing around the world.

In this photo provided by Oliver Widger via his Instagram account on Thursday, May 15, 2025, his cat, Phoenix, sits inside their sailboat somewhere in the Pacific Ocean as both make their way from Oregon to Hawaii.

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Oliver Widger / AP


Who is Sailing With Phoenix?

The 29-year-old 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, many of whom he gained over the past week. He said he thinks his story, which made national news, resonated with people.

He said 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.

“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,” Widger said. “It’s just the world’s in a weird place, and I think people have seen that it’s possible to break out.”

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Sailing with Phoenix welcome party at Waikiki Yacht Club

Sailing With Phoenix

Oliver Widger, 29-year-old Oregon man who sailed from Oregon to Hawaii, arrives at the Waikiki Yacht Club, on Saturday, May 24, 2025 in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Michelle Bir / AP


Gov. Green presented Widger with a proclamation after he arrived on Oahu. 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 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.

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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.

Sailing With Phoenix

In this screengrab taken from a video posted on Oliver Widger’s Instagram account on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Widger talks to the camera somewhere in the Pacific Ocean as he and his cat, Phoenix, sail from Oregon to Hawaii.

Oliver Widger / AP


What is Klippel-Feil syndrome?

Klippel-Feil syndrome, or KFS, is rare skeletal condition in which two or more cervical vertebrae are fused together, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which causes abnormalities in the spine.

The disorder is congenital, meaning a person is born with it. However, some people go undiagnosed until later life when symptoms worsen or first become apparent, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

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“It took three years of battling fear and facing the reality that, as a result of my cervical spine condition, I’m at risk of paralysis,” Widger said. “That truth pushed me to finally choose a life worth living. I hated my job. I despised the corporate machine.”



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Flood watch covers Oahu, Kauai and Niihau through late Monday | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Flood watch covers Oahu, Kauai and Niihau through late Monday | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Radar shows heavy rain over Oahu earlier today.

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UPDATE: 6:45 p.m.

The flood watch for Kauai, Oahu, and Niihau remains in effect until late Monday night, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

”A cold front stalling over the western Hawaiian islands through Monday will increase rainfall activity across the western half of the state,” the updated flood watch says. “These showers may become locally heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.”

NWS forecasters said “flood-prone roads and other low-lying areas may be closed due to elevated runoff and overflowing streams. Urban areas may receive more significant flooding and property damage due to rapid runoff.”

Forecasters said that a front that has stalled out near Oahu “will hold its position through the afternoon before moving slowly back to the north and west tonight and Monday. This will bring continued chances for moderate to heavy rain to the western end of the state through tomorrow. “

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They said the chance of rain will decrease Monday night into Tuesday, but returns Tuesday night into Wednesday “as the remains of the current front fuse with a new one and they move back into the western part of the state.”

However, the weather service forecasters note, “Confidence in location is not as high with this next system, as guidance has trended away from bringing it as far east as Oahu.”

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Heavy rain across Oahu today causes localized flooding, including on Queen Street, which which was shut this afternoon between Ward Avenue and Kamakee Street.

3:42 p.m.

The flood advisory of Oahu will expire at 3:45 p.m. today.

Radar indicates that heavy rain has diminished for now, so the flood advisory has been canceled.

Meanwhile, a flood watch remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.

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2:30 p.m.

A high surf warning has been issued for the west-facing shores of leeward Hawaii island, while a high surf advisory has been issued for the north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau, and the north-facing shores of Maui.

A large, medium period west-northwest swell between 290 and 300 degrees is building this afternoon along portions of the north- and west-facing shores. Surf is expected to peak late this evening then gradually lower Monday afternoon.

The high surf warning for leeward Hawaii island is in effect from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Expect dangerously large breaking waves of up to 12 feet. Surf will build late tonight and peak Monday afternoon.

“Stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts. Be prepared for road closures. Postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides,” forecasters report.

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EARLIER COVERAGE

Oahu is under a flood advisory until 3:45 p.m. today following flooding caused by excessive rainfall.

“Ponding of water in urban areas is likely. Minor flooding on roads, poor drainage areas, and in streams. Some low-water crossings may become impassable,” according to National Weather Service forecasters.

At 12:50 p.m. today, the radar indicated areas of heavy rain developing and traveling northeast of Oahu.

“While there may be a brief lull in rainfall, a larger batch of showers is moving up from the southwest and is expected to impact the island for the next few hours,” according to forecasters.

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Rain was falling at a rate 0.5 to 1.1 inches per hour with the possibility of 2 inches per hour. The entire island of Oahu is expected to experience flooding, according to NWS.

The advisory may be extended beyond 3:45 p.m. if flooding persists.




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Honolulu Marathon kicks off with a rainy start

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Honolulu Marathon kicks off with a rainy start


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The JAL Honolulu Marathon kicks off at Ala Moana Boulevard.

Hawaii News Now celebrates the 53nd anniversary of the Honolulu Marathon with a special edition of Sunrise.

We’ll be tracking runners throughout the entire course, sharing heartfelt stories from competitors, and going behind the scenes to spotlight dedicated volunteers — from malasada makers to medical crews — who help make this massive event possible.

Join us for live coverage throughout the 26.2-mile course on Sunday, Dec. 14, starting at 6 a.m. only on Hawaii News Now.

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Click here to track a runner.

Tsegay Weldibanos from Eritrea came in first place in the elite men’s division with a time of 2:13:41.

He beat out last year’s winner by less than a minute.

Tsegay Weldibanos from Eritrea came in first place in the elite men’s division with a time of 2:13:41.

And in the women’s elite division, Calli Hauger-Thackery, from Great Britain, came in first place with a time of 2:30:44.

She also beat out last year’s winner by a tight margin.

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Calli Hauger-Thackery, from Great Britain, came in first place in the elite women’s division with a time of 2:30:44.

For the second year in a row, Kota Hokinoue came in first place for the marathon’s men’s wheelchair division.

For the second year in a row, Kota Hokinoue came in first place for the marathon’s men’s wheelchair division.

The course goes through downtown Honolulu, past Iolani Palace and the Christmas lights, through Waikiki and climbs up and around Diamond Head, before heading out through Kahala and out to Hawaii Kai. Turning back after Hawaii Kai toward Kahala and Honolulu, the course passes Diamond Head again on the ocean side before finishing in Kapiolani Park.

We have live team coverage of the 2025 Honolulu Marathon with reporters throughout the course.



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Celebrations across Hawaii to take place in honor of Sakada Day

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Celebrations across Hawaii to take place in honor of Sakada Day


HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island will commemorate the arrival of the first 15 Filipinos to Hawaii back in 1906.

A free Sakada Day Celebration in Hilo will take place on Dec. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to honor the contributions of the Filipino plantation workers who sparked a wave of migration.

“Filipinos are actually a large group here in Hawaii, lot of times things like this are actually tend to be a little neglected,” said Iris Viacrusis, co-chair of the Sakada Day Celebration.

This year’s event will feature a lei presentation at 9 a.m. at the statue at Keaau Community Center, followed by lunch, entertainment and a presentation to three descendants of sakadas: Sandra Claveria, Lorraine Rodero Inouye and Angel Pilago.

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Two exhibits will also be displayed for guests to learn more about the sakadas — one will feature stories of the sakadas’ legacy and the other will showcase cultural items and clothing from Viacrusis’ collection.

Dec. 20 was proclaimed Sakada Day under Gov. David Ige in 2015.

Event organizers are preparing for next year’s 120th anniversary of the sakadas in Hawaii.

Sakada Day Celebration(UH Hilo)

Meantime, on Oahu, a free Sakada Day Celebration is taking place today, Dec. 13, at Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center for Philippine Studies and Filipino Curriculum Project organize the annual gathering, which honors the resilience, contributions, and cultural legacy of sakadas, migrant plantation workers whose hard work, courage, and spirit continue to shape the Filipino American experience today.

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High school students will take part in stage performances, visual presentations, education booths and a fashion show.



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