The greenish-brown surface of the Ala Wai Canal turned yellow briefly Saturday as 20,000 rubber ducks floated down the waterway.

After being dumped en masse by Marines and Air Force members off a bridge behind the Hawai‘i Convention Center, the duckies bobbed up and "raced" to the finish line under a downpour.

"I can’t recall a rain day in a very long time, but the ducks don’t mind," said Donna Fouts, executive director of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii, who started the fundraising event in 1987.

The 26th annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race raised between $50,000 and $60,000 Saturday as participants paid $5 — or whatever they could afford — to adopt a duck. Roughly 15,000 ducks were adopted, but the other 5,000 were dumped in the canal for good measure.

The top 50 adopted finishers and the lame duck (last place) earned donated prizes, among them a trip to Las Vegas, an Apple iPad Mini, staycations, free meals at Sizzler Restaurant and dolphin swims at Sea Life Park.

The organization raised $1 million in its first 25 years, Fouts said. The money supports Hawaii programs and consumer needs for children with disabilities, not just those with cerebral palsy. Drugs can lead to serious disabilities in children, Fouts said by way of example.

"There are a number of kids being born with disabilities to crack- and coke-addicted mothers," she said.

The fundraiser began with pre-race activities and entertainment at the McCully Shopping Center, which drew a crowd of about 500, and the ducky weather failed to discourage about 200 from continuing on to witness the race. The pre-race event also contributed to the day’s fundraising tally.

Volunteer Regine Hudson, 31, a nurse who has cared for cerebral palsy patients, said she was happy to participate in helping to raise money for the cause.

"I’ve seen what donations can do," she said, adding that she has seen the physical therapy costs. "So this is very important to me."

Hudson and her husband, Theryn, an Air Force member, assisted in launching the faux fowl.

"It is really exciting," she said moments before the start of the race.

The event drew lots of families and kids of all ages.

Alim and Alia Shabazz, 5 and 3, watched the race with excitement as the duckies neared the finish line and both exclaimed: "I don’t know which is mine!"

But Kahiau Akana, 5, pointed out his ducky.

"The No. 2 one is mine," he said.

Adelaide Hoffmann, 8, spotted her ducky near the rear.

"I think he’s pretty lazy because he’s the one in the back," she said. "I’ve been staring at him the whole time."

Veronica Hussey, 44, brought her family, including 18-month granddaughter Tehya Hottinger, because she wanted to participate in this fundraiser and the $5-a-duck donation was reasonable.

"Even with the rain, it was still fun," she said.