Kermit the frog knew a lot of things. How to attract the affection of a female pig. How to run "The Muppet Show." How to sing "Rainbow Connection." But he was wrong about one thing: It isn't all that tough to be green. The organizers of today's "It's Easy Being Green" environmental education festival for kids at Kapi'olani Park aim to prove it with crafts, games, music, art and more preaching the benefits of following the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle). Join them from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at picnic area No. 7. It's free. Call 735-2484.

— Derek Paiva

A BOOK FOR SURFERS

THE BEST BOARDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD

British-born surfer and surfboard shaper Rod Sumpter emblazoned one of his first boards with a Union Jack across the bottom, because he wanted to hold the attention of judges at the 1966 world championships. None of them missed a ride. Sumpter's passion for surfboards, from their shape to the artwork they display, is at the heart of his book "Today's Top Surfboards" (Shiffer Publishing, $29.95). Each of its 159 pages bears one or more photos of beautiful boards — enough to make any surfer swoon.

On a really good day in the surf, you have to thank the board. "It shares the wave with you," the 60-year-old Sumpter writes, "and that gift you've found is priceless."

— Mike Gordon

FINAL WORD

"No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock. ... Over the years, I have seen people lose a spouse and then withdraw and lose interest in life, and I believe we need to resist that."

The Rev. Billy Graham | whose wife, Ruth, died June 13, in Time magazine