Nothing brings West Seattleites outside like a sunny day and the American Legion Grand Parade during the Hi-Yu Summer Festival - you can also enjoy the refurbished mural, featuring the Hi-Yu float, on the south side of the Post Office on California.

It's almost always a warm, sunny day in July when we get to spread out a blanket or a lawn chair, or just sit right down on the sidewalk to watch the parade. Kids scramble for candy and anxiously wait for a clown or pirate to come by. And the boom - everyone knows that when the pirate ship comes by, there's sure to be a horrific boom from the cannon.

Brightly colored floats drift by from neighboring communities, but we are filled with pride when the West Seattle Hi-Yu float comes by. We wave as if the Hi-Yu royalty were our best friends, neighbors or granddaughters (and often they are), and we admire the handiwork carried out in a creative theme.

But where does the float come from? Who builds and decorates the float? Where is it stored all year?

This year's theme is Luna Park, celebrating the amusement park that graced the shores of Alki Beach from 1907 to 1913. Float designers are already hard at work to depict some of the Luna Park traditions in a whimsical representation that's sure to delight parade-goers and judges alike. That's right, there are judges and prizes.

College junior, Erin Waid, was Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu in 2004 and went on to represent Seattle as Miss Seafair.

"The most memorable experience for me was when our float won the grand prize in the Torchlight Parade," said Waid. "Our float, which we built ourselves in a neighbor's backyard, was selected the best of the parade!"

West Seattle High School senior Sivona Lingle is the reigning Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu for 2008.

Over the years, neighbors have gathered in empty warehouses, vacant retail space, backyards, garages and parking lots to build the float. School kids are encouraged to volunteer to build West Seattle's float as their community service project.

"Each year, our community rallies to create an award-winning float, but where we build and store the float is always the biggest challenge," said Hi-Yu President Tim Winston.

And then, there's the motor.

The float is built atop a 1967 Buick GS 400 and driven by dedicated dads and local community Hi-Yu members.

"There have been a couple years where we had to get a tow to finish the parade route," said Winston. For the last several years, GT Towing has provided outdoor storage and transported the float to many parades.

"We are looking for another GT out there," said Winston. The organization also needs a large, dry space to build, decorate and store the float from February through the summer. If you have an accessible work or storage space, double-car garage, or empty business area, or you'd like to volunteer to work on the float, please contact Tim Winston at info@hiyu.com.

As for the Hi-Yu queen and princesses, applications are due Feb, 28 for 2009 - all the information and the application can be found on the Hi-Yu Web site at: www.hiyu.com.

It's a scholarship competition - not a beauty pageant - Hi-Yu Scholarships have increased to $2,000 for Miss West Seattle, and $1,000 for each princess. Every candidate receives professional mentoring by local businesswomen, a professional appearance workshop, and public speaking training. Jessica Forsythe, owner of the Forsythe Studio coordinates the West Seattle young women's mentorship program.

Winston's daughter, Megan, was Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu 2001.

"I loved that year, going with the Seafair Pirates to play with patients at Children's Hospital, being a mentor to the junior court girls, and participating in Seafair, said the younger Winston. "It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life - I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."

Colleen Gants lives in West Seattle and is a public relations consultant. She and her husband are parents of 2008 Hi-Yu junior princess, India. Gants may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com