Did you know Georgia O'Keeffe, the artist whose sexual blooms launched a thousand note cards, was a Dole employee? Well, sort of: She was hired by an ad agency to make promotional paintings for the agricultural giant. However, in her three months in the Islands, O'Keeffe didn't paint a single pineapple. Instead, she captured landscapes and flowers. Five of the works are in "Bridges and Waterfalls: Georgia O'Keeffe in Hawai'i" at the Academy of Arts.

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp, guest curator and author of "Full Bloom: The Art and Life of Georgia O'Keeffe" (W.W. Norton), gives a free lecture on the artist at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Doris Duke Theatre. First come, first served. 532-8700.

— Lesa Griffith

FESTIVAL FUN UP NORTH

Surf's up on the North Shore. And to kick off the start of the competitive surf season, Op Pro is hosting the North Shore Makahiki Festival tomorrow and Sunday at Hale'iwa Beach Park. The weekend-long festival will feature local bands, films, food booths and artists.

It will also herald the start of the holding period for the Op Pro Hawaii, the first jewel in the 2006 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Go to www.makahikifestival.com for more information.

— Catherine E. Toth

FINAL WORD

"I remember having to eat whale for lunch and not really liking it. My taste buds were formed in Japan, though. My comfort food is definitely miso soup."

Sean Lennon | the musician and son of John and Yoko, on attending kindergarten in Japan, in New York magazine