West Seattle has been crowning Miss Hi-Yu's every year since 1934 but this year there is only one young woman competing for the title.

"It's been harder the last few years to get people to run," says Carol Winston, the Miss Hi-Yu candidate coordinator. "Young women are much busier than 30 years ago; they have more opportunities to take their time."

Winston also cites the time investment involved as being a possible deterrent for potential candidates and the fact newcomers to West Seattle know nothing about Hi-Yu.

"It's hard to commit," says Winston.

To be a candidate, one must submit an application and then participate in a series of events throughout the month of July, leading up to the coronation. Once crowned, the winner of the pageant is expected to be in 12 parades and participate in public speaking events and other such community activities the following summer.

According to Winston, much is being done to encourage more local young women to participate.

"We do a lot to get candidates," says Winston. "We advertise in the (West Seattle) Herald, we put up posters, go to schools, etc."

Winston also feels that the community's lack of knowledge has contributed to the program's current state of decline. "It's much more transitional than it used to be in West Seattle," says Winston. "People have no clue what Hi-Yu is." Thirty or 40 years ago, people grew up with it, says Winston, adding, "It's different now."

Although Miss Hi-Yu is a pageant, it is not a beauty pageant. Rather, the competition is a scholarship pageant; candidates are judged on their academics, community service, essay, public speaking, talent and overall participation. "Looks are not a part of it at all," insists Winston.

The 2006-2007 Princess Keili Geller, a member of last year's royalty, agrees with Winston.

"HiYu is a scholarship pageant, not a beauty pageant. I never felt that looks mattered," says Geller. Instead, she remembers being judged only on the criteria previously mentioned.

Geller was inspired to compete by observing Hi-Yu royalty when she was younger.

"I've lived in West Seattle most of my life, and grew up participating in the summer activities," says Geller. "I looked up to the Senior Court when I was a young girl, as role models." Geller decided at a very young age that she wanted to be one of those role models for young girls in the community.

To Geller, the pageant - as well as the HiYu summer festivities - represents the "core atmosphere of West Seattle's community."

"We are the spokespeople of our small town for the broader territory of Washington State," says Geller

Young women between the ages of 17 and 23, who either live, go to school, or work in the West Seattle area are eligible to compete in the pageant. The application can be found on the Hi-Yu Website, www.hiyu.com.

For Geller, competing was a real learning experience. "Hi-Yu helped prepare me for college interviews because I had an interview with the judges," says Geller, adding that it also helped her with public speaking because she had to speak at many events.

"I recommend any young woman to compete," Geller enthuses. "Any young girl who wants to meet new people, learn how to speak publicly, boost confidence, and just have a fun summer."

Winston shares Geller's view of the pageant as an opportunity for young women to benefit from the competition process. "They learn skills by participating," says Winston. "The whole process helps with public speaking (through interviews, etc.), they meet community leaders, and it's a fun thing to do."

Winston believes that both the lack of interest and the community's lack of knowledge about the pageant are closely related. "People think Miss Hi-Yu is a beauty pageant, and it's not," she says. "We are trying to focus on letting people know that it's not based on looks."

By increasing awareness about the true nature of the pageant, Winston hopes to get more local businesses involved. She contends that the scholarships awarded are relatively modest - the Queen receives $1,200 towards higher education, while each Princess receives $750 - and she would like to raise these amounts.

"The time the girls put in (to the competition) deserves more," says Winston. "The scholarship is too low to compete for the girls' time."

The scholarship fund depends mainly upon community donations, local businesses, individual memberships and fund-raisers. Past fund-raisers have included a Valentine's Day Tea held at the Alki Homestead, and glass Christmas ornament sales.

Donations from businesses - especially those local to West Seattle - are much appreciated, emphasizes Winston. This year, there will be a reception on July 23rd, to "show the new court and thank business sponsors." At that time, this year's new Queen will be crowned. The event will take place at 7 p.m., at the Fauntleroy Community Church.

The junior court will have their coronation on July 20th at 1 p.m. at the Hiawatha Fun Festival, which will take place near West Seattle High School.

In Winston's opinion, there are many incentives for to Hi-Yu. "Money goes to the whole program, not just the scholarship fund," she says. The pageant is only one part of what the Hi-Yu organization does.

According to Winston, Hi-Yu - which means "big and plenty," in the Native American Chinook language - does coordinating for all community clubs such as the American Legion, Kiwanis and the Rotary Club, as well as promotes the souvenir book, working on the summer festival and building a float.

In Winston's opinion, both the float and the scholarship program are important for representing West Seattle in other communities throughout western Washington.

"We go to other towns such as Sequim, Kent, Marysville, and Port Orchard, promoting our area," says Winston. "We go to other parades, and encourage others to come to ours." She claims that this representation is good for local businesses.

"Miss Hi-Yu feeds into the Miss Seafair pageant," Winston says. The previous winner of the Miss Hi-Yu pageant went on to win Miss Seafair. "This looks very good (for West Seattle)," says Winston.

Additionally, Winston calls upon West Seattle residents and business-owners to "help young women in the community." They are very talented, she says. People should want to help them.

Mia Steere may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com