If it's indoors in a pot, yes lots of light. If he wants to put it outdoors for the summer, a little afternoon shade doesn't hurt. Here they like to grow in sort of semi-shade, although the pineapple fields you see in Hawaii and other places are in full sun.
Here's a thread about a blooming pineapple over on the Tropicals forum for you to send your friend to.
The thread "My Pineapple is Pinappleing!" in
Tropicals forum
