Hawaii inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of tropical flowers and landscapes during a 1939 trip. The Hawaiian Pineapple Company, later Dole, invited her to create images for an advertising campaign.
O'Keeffe spent about nine weeks traveling through the islands, visiting Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. She painted subjects such as pineapple plants, hibiscus, papaya, and dramatic coastal scenery. Although she produced many works, the company ultimately used only a small number in its advertising.
The trip broadened O'Keeffe's imagery beyond New York and New Mexico. Her Hawaiian paintings are sometimes mistaken for Caribbean scenes, but the commission and travel itinerary clearly place them in the Hawaiian Islands.