Link: http://www.uscghawaii.com/go/doc/800/69155/

Several years ago, Bill Swears, intending to retire to Alaska, set out to fly to the US mainland from Hawaii. Unfortunately he did not get very far before he hit engine problems and had to ditch in the Pacific. Thanks to good preparation and excellent air-sea rescue processes, he was rescued, injured but still very much alive.
This is the best available account of his experience.