Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race Raised Thousands

The 37th annual rubber duck race in the Ala Wai Canal secured funds for local children with cerebral palsy.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration of a bright yellow rubber duck floating on deep teal water, cast with a dark palm leaf shadow. — The 37th annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race in Honolulu raised over $65,000 to support children receiving care for cerebral palsy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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More than 20,000 rubber ducks were dropped into the Ala Wai Canal on Saturday to raise money for charity. The 37th Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race generated an estimated $65,000 to $70,000 to support children with cerebral palsy.

Why it matters

The annual event provides critical funding to cover medical treatment costs for 500 children with cerebral palsy. By selling individual ducks at $5 each, the organization maintains a sustainable revenue stream for its ongoing community health initiatives.

The race featured a field of 20,000 rubber ducks sold at $5 apiece to support 500 children. Total estimated proceeds reached between $65,000 and $70,000.

The players

Wendy Takara

She is the participant who finished in first place and won a trip to Japan.

The details

Participants watched as thousands of ducks were released into the Ala Wai Canal behind the Hawaii Convention Center at 1:20 p.m. Prizes were awarded to the top 50 finishers and the final duck, including a grand prize trip to Japan claimed by winner Wendy Takara.

The 37th Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race took place on September 19, 2026.
The race officially started at 1:20 p.m.

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Market Landscape

This event follows a pattern set by the 37th Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race regarding community-led fundraising efforts. It highlights the continued success of established local charity traditions in securing reliable annual funding.

Residents who purchased ducks directly contributed to the medical treatment costs for 500 local children. These funds help ensure families have access to necessary therapies and care for cerebral palsy.

The takeaway

Community-led events like this demonstrate how small-scale individual donations can aggregate into significant support for specialized healthcare. Participants can look forward to future annual iterations to continue supporting regional medical accessibility.