Yesterday, they ran out of T-shirts — and the registrants kept on coming.

"Before the entry deadline was up, one of the people working the desk came up and said, 'What do I do? I'm all out of T-shirts,'" said Bill Pratt, organizer of the benefit race and pal of paddler Leighton Look.

Look, 48, a popular paddler, diver, fisher and coach for Hui Lanakila Canoe Club, has been hospitalized since mid-October after a severe case of the bends in waters off Hawai'i Kai left him paralyzed from the neck down.

He is affectionately known as "Bruddah Leight," but yesterday it became obvious that there was more affection for Look than event organizers had realized.

"We surpassed our wildest expectations," said Pratt. "I think that's a testament of the love and aloha everyone here in the paddle community has for Leighton."

More than 400 paddlers left Mauna Lua Beach Park at 10 a.m. in 188 one-, two- and six-person canoes, and began arriving at Magic Island around noon.

Shortly before the race began, Kahu Billy Mitchell from the Big Island — Look's friend "since he was a little boy" — said a prayer for Look's well-being and recovery.

Mitchell, one of the founders of the Hui Lanakila Canoe Club in 1977, also read a letter from Look to the gathering:

"Aloha paddlers and friends — sorry I can't be with you at this race. Thank you for all your time and donations toward my cause. Special thanks to those of you that donated the food, T-shirts, safety boat and labor."

Look, along with his younger brother Les, operated Makana Alii paddles. Look's paddles are treasured and used by many in Hawai'i's paddling community.

"They are the best," said Teo Clemens, another organizer of yesterday's benefit race. "Everybody uses them."

At Magic Island arriving paddlers reported ideal racing conditions.

"It was perfect," said paddler Gregory Gomes. "There was a good push all the way. It was just a fun race, but once you're out there it always gets competitive."

Afterward, everyone involved was fed chili and bentos that had been donated. Throughout the day the mood was jovial, but many in the paddling community expressed their thoughts and concerns for Look.

"He has touched a lot of people," said Clemens. "Those of us in the paddling community don't do this kind of thing often. But he's special."

"He's just a great guy," added Kim Martinez, who's with the Hui Lanakila Canoe Club. "Anytime anyone needed anything, he was there to help."

Les Look said because his brother was self-employed, his income stopped from the moment he became paralyzed. Meanwhile, his bills have mounted.

"But his spirits are real high," he said. "He's accepted what happened. Mentally, he's 110 percent there.

"We've heard so many stories from so many people that it takes awhile to come back — that it could take up to a few years to get his feeling back. And there's always the chance that he won't.

"But he's a strong guy, and mentally he's up for it — and that's half the battle."

Harold Look, Leighton's father, said his son's doctor isn't optimistic.

"But Leighton is not one to give up very easily," he said. "As a kid we said he was strong willed. We've told him he's got to use his hard-headedness to get well.

"We're hoping for a miracle."