Doris Duke’s Shangri La

Used to live on Oahu, but never got a chance to visit this museum. Since we were planned our visit to Honolulu, we decided to check out the Shangri La. About 3 weeks prior to our trip, I attempted to call the number listed on the Honolulu Museum of Art website to check whether we need to schedule a tour or if there is a general admission fee.
Honolulu Museum of Art website is very unclear on how to attend this Shangri La Museum.
After not being able to get through to the ticketing (even with timezone consideration), I left a message for them to call me back and explain the process of attending the Shangri La. Nobody called. So we decided to just check it out when we get to Honolulu
Right after we arrived at our hotel room, I called the Honolulu Museum of Art, and asked how I can just get general admission, and not the tour. The lady on the phone said that Shangri La is by reservation only and ONLY as a tour. I told her we want to book it, so she said ¹⁄₁₆ was available, then a minute later told me that it got booked, and the next one is on ¹⁄₂₈.
Wtf?
They do have a standby list, where you have to show up at the museum and see if anyone cancels.
I’m seriously disappointed in this enterprise and how they handle returning their calls, and switching last minute on their customers on the phone.
I guess all I wanted was to see the art from the countries that my family is from — Uzbekistan and because I’ve been several Muslim countries. Judging by this experience, I say it’s much EASIER to get a visa to the Islamic countries and fly to see the real deal, rather than pointlessly trying to get someone at HM of A or Shangri La to care.

Can you imagine inheriting a hundred million dollars at the age of 12? As the only daughter of tobacco and hydroelectric tycoon James Buchanan Duke, Doris Duke was blessed to be able to travel the world and see great sites as a youth after his passing in 1925. Her honeymoon brought her to Hawaii, where she became the first non-​Hawaiian woman to take up competitive surfing under the guidance and friendship of surfing champion and Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku and his brothers
In the 1930s, Doris Duke built her Honolulu home, Shangri La, on five acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. Named Shangri La, this property incorporates architectural features from the Islamic world and houses Duke’s extensive collection of Islamic art, which she assembled for nearly 60 years.
Labeled as one of Hawai’i’s most architecturally significant properties, Doris Duke’s Shangri La was a retreat and private sanctuary for a socialite who greatly valued isolation while spending time in Hawaii. In her will, she gifted her home of Shangri La to the public through the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, as a place for the study of Islamic art and culture.
Today, Shangri La is open to the public for guided, small group tours and educational programs. To take part in this exclusive tour, you must take the shuttle departing from the Honolulu Museum of Arts, because the house is located in a residential area. The short shuttle ride provides a brief overview of Doris Duke’s life, passions, and gives you a better idea of how this gorgeous home came to be.
Photographs are prohibited inside the home, but are allowed in the gardens and exterior areas. In this day in age where everything is photographed, I appreciated the no pictures rule. It forced me to absorb as much as I could and really listen to the docent’s words on how each room was influenced by Miss Duke.
My favorite rooms were the living room, connecting to the dining room– where Doris Duke replaced the traditional western dining table with a low rise wooden table, which would’ve had guests sit on the ground on cushions. The dining room, overlooking the ocean, also featured two gorgeous handcrafted baccarat crystal lamps as well as a chandelier above the table. In the hallway connecting these two rooms, a tile seemed to be missing from the wall– our docent Mae, stated that Duke handpicked nearly every tile that went into her home, and just didn’t find the right fit before her passing in 1993.
Although the tour is relatively short, at about 90 minutes for the whole property (with no-​deviating from the group), I recommend this guided tour to everyone; whether you are a visitor to the State of Hawaii or a local who’s lived here forever.

I am glad I found and visited this place.
I did not expect much when I booked for the tour, but it turned out to be a fabulous property with full of history and love for the Islamic arts.
It was also a good idea that you meet at Honolulu museum of Art, and ride on the bus to the property. On the way there, you get to see a short video, which prepares yourself quite good before you start the tour. This is defensively one of the best activities I have done in Oahu.

I booked this tour four weeks in advance through the Honolulu Museum of Art website. Awesome tour guide, BEAUTIFUL property, and I learned a lot about Doris Duke and Islamic Art. The history was quite interesting. My husband even enjoyed it (he was one to raise his hand when the tour guide asked at the start, «Who was dragged here?»)! Haha.
It was very warm throughout the tour inside the home, so be sure and take a hand fan when offered. It makes for a nice souvenir, too!
Doris Duke and her husband decided that Oahu would be the location of her winter home. Construction in Kahala began in the late 1930’s. Doris was a spiritual person, but never practiced a specific religion. As a world traveler, she just had a fond liking to patterns, the play of light and symmetry of Islamic Art and elements from Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Throughout the property, you’ll find a sensual and sensory appeal to its architecture and the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. My favorite part of the home was the courtyard just off of the main entrance.
Probably not a good idea to bring small children since most of the furniture is off limits. There are two rooms that allow visitors to sit down on the couches, but other than that you’re on foot for 1.5 hours.
The tour meets at the Palm courtyard of the museum, just off of Ward Ave. Parking is available at the Honolulu School of Art for $ 5. We checked in 20 minutes prior to our 9am tour and enjoyed coffee and tea before departure time at 9:05am. The shuttle bus was about a 10-​minute drive to Kahala.
Photos are prohibited inside the house. But have your cameras ready once you get to the upper lawn and the Mughal Garden!

As a huge fan of Islamic Art, I’ve been looking forward to visiting Shangri La for some time now, but every time I would visit my MIL in Honolulu, I would forget to book in advance! This type of tour MUST be booked usually at least 2 weeks out. I finally did enough planning ahead to make an advanced booking. It’s $ 25/​person or $ 20/kama’aina and includes admission to the Honolulu Museum of Art, making it a great value and wonderful experience overall.
You meet at the Honolulu Museum of Art and take a shuttle to the house – this makes perfect sense because if I lived in the neighborhood I would be really annoyed to have tourists taking up neighborhood parking and causing traffic. This was an elegant solution to make the house accessible, but maintaining neighbors’ privacy.
The tour guide was well informed and tried to give us a great experience. It was very hot and I definitely recommend wearing a hat! They know that it’s hot so they provide little fans you can keep as mementos. At the house they also provide you with a place to put bags if you don’t want to carry it around, which is a nice touch because I was able to explore unencumbered by a bag! It was interesting how Doris Duke incorporated styles from many different regions and they say she had a say in everything that went into the house, which made it feel like a more personal space. There are a number of really beautiful mosaics and there is a stunning mihrab with luminescent tile.
You can’t take pictures inside the house, but you can get great pictures in the gardens/​courtyard/​backyard and instead of hiding behind my camera the whole time I was able to appreciate and fully experience the house. I honestly think I would revisit because I enjoyed it so much.

As our wonderful tour guide explained, Shangri La gets its name from a fictional utopia depicted in the novel Lost Horizon. The inhabitants of this heaven on earth are immortal, much like the extensive collection of artwork that finds its home at Doris Duke’s Shangri La.
A slice of paradise in paradise itself, Shangri La is a beautifully designed and decorated home! Every nook, cranny, and crevice of this sprawling mansion features awe-​inspiring Islamic art collected by Doris Duke throughout her life. Learning about the architecture and artwork of Shangri La was just as interesting as learning about Doris Duke herself. I highly recommend this tour for visitors and locals alike! Tickets for the tours can be purchased online or by phone through the Honolulu Museum of Art and are $ 20 for Kama’aina. Here is the website for more tour and ticket information:
. They tend to fill up rather quickly, so it is best to book further in advance if you have a larger party.
Tours meet at the Honolulu Museum of Art and are shuttled to Shangri La. The tour tickets also come with free admission to the Honolulu Museum Art, so I recommend attending an earlier time so you can enjoy more of the Museum as well.
Some Tour Tips to keep in mind:
— If you purchase a Kama’aina ticket, you must show your Hawaii State ID upon checking in.
— Photography is limited to the outside views of Shangri La and not within its ornate interior.
— There is no air conditioning inside Shangri La, so wear cool clothing. Fans are provided at the start of the tour that you are welcome to keep as a souvenir. Water is also provided halfway through the tour.
— Comfortable shoes are highly recommended since this is a walking tour.
Thank you Kelly H. for planning our amazing afternoon spent at Shangri La!

The guide was very praising, of Doris Duke. She was really just a billionaires daughter, who liked Persian stuff, and had it sent in. She never actually did anything, but the guides make the story out that she was an angel, sent from heaven, to build Shangra La.
There are very pretty views, but if you want to enjoy them, the staff will hover over you like secret service,. No joke, guys in suits, with ear pieces, will tell you to get back with your group; they only let in two groups of twenty people at a time, so it’s not that big of a deal, except to them.
There is a lovely pool area, but you aren’t allowed to enter it. There is a nice Persian garden that you aren’t allowed to enter. If you step on the grass, you get yelled at. If you step on the floor you get yelled at. If you get a drink of water, you get yelled at (85 degrees no AC mind you). Have a bathroom need, yelled at. I felt like I was in the third grade.
Strongly recommend against wasting your time and money.

Doris Duke’s Shangri La is really something.
As I toured the former home of the now deceased tobacco heiress I was as wowed as anyone could be. Ms. Duke had the money and vision to create something jaw-​droppingly spectacular. What that something is may be open to interpretation.
While on her round-​the-​world honeymoon trip Ms. Duke’s husband sent a letter home stating «Doris has fallen in love». What she’d fallen in love with was not her husband again but rather, Islamic Art, wherever she encountered it. Returning to Oahu, she began building out Shangri-​La, spending the rest of her life commissioning Islamic artisans world-​wide to help achieve her dream abode.
Billed as a «Center for Islamic Art & Culture», Shangri La feels more like a tour of an exquisite home, with gorgeous interior design, interior architecture, and landscape design. It does house visiting Islamic artists but what one sees on tour is less about that, and more about experiencing this fabulous estate filled with Islamic tiles and the like.
Touring Shangri La is one of those things that you only need to do once but it’s absolutely worth doing. You’ll be exposed to Islamic Art but what you’ll most remember is those beautiful views and grounds. Doris Duke could’ve done almost anything with the money she had. That she built this place and left it for others to enjoy makes for an interesting story and is worth experiencing.
* Tours of Shangri La cost $ 25 per person and are available by advance ticketing/​appointment only. Tours run 2.5 hours, starting and ending at the Honolulu Museum of Art. A shuttle bus takes you to and from the estate. Small group tours begin upon arrival at Shangri La and run about 1.5 hours.
* Your Shangri La ticket also gains you same day admittance to the Honolulu Museum of Art and its Makiki Heights outpost/​botanical garden, Spalding House. Consider making a day of art.
* No interior photography is permitted at Shangri La.
* Shangri La is not a good place to take kids.

Shows how the rich spent their money. Shangri La is located on the beach on the east side of Diamond Head on Ohau, Hawaii. Lots of beautiful old Islamic art tiles, religious artifacts, rugs, fountains and tropical landscaping. Salt water pool is 18′ deep. No kitchen or bathroom. I guess they didn’t eat or use the toilet? Doris Duke was tall and athletic and hung out with Duke Kahanamoku Catch the shuttle at the Honolulu Museum of Art in Honolulu.

A TRUE PRIVILEGE…
I feel extremely fortunate to visit the Shangri-​La. I tried booking tickets on the phone but an automated machine told me tickets were sold out for the next two weeks. I called again and spoke with an employee and they too told me it was all filled up. This really sucked because I was just visiting the islands and wouldn’t be there for the next available date.
Luckily, just when I thought all hope was lost, my friend was able to get 3 tickets online. Hallelujah! When you visit here, always plan in advance when coming here and/​or have super awesome friends.
We were told to be extremely prompt because of the shuttle that would take you to and from the Shangri-​La. There is a short wait but there is a movie to build up the anticipation… and a little coffee bar to just chill.
As I write this review, It comes to mind that pictures are not allowed on the inside. Which is fine by me. Beauty and art like this should be seen in person. It should hit all your senses like it’s supposed to. It’s perception shouldn’t be altered by poor photography or silly captions.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but the Shangri-​La is worth much more than that. There exists moments in one’s life that can’t be described in words, or pictures. There exists an essence that can only be felt by physically being there; To be standing where the richest woman in the world once stood, to walk the grounds of a palace that is irreplaceable. To take a time machine back in time and find one of the world’s rarest gems… How do you describe that?

I visited the Doris Duke’s Shangri La as a part of the Spotlight Tours which highlighted the nearly opened bed chambers. I thought this was a beautiful tour and the tour guide was kind and knowledgeable.
I only got to see the outside garden, the inside bedchambers, bathroom, and bedroom of Doris Duke, but everything is marvelous and beautiful. One of my favorite things was the outside part of the Doris Duke’s home because she lives on a cliff near the sea so you can see the beautiful ocean.
She spent a lot of money to build the home inside and out and that is reflected in every aspect of the beautiful building.
I truly recommend that every one should visit this beautiful Islamic styled building because it is so breathtaking and the legacy Doris Duke left behind is very important.

Growing up in Honolulu and swimming at Cromwell’s and gazing above the tall stonewalls and partially seeing some of Doris Duke’s Shagri La’s residence, it was a treat to tour the buildings and grounds. How cool for a local to survey the «pier» from above. The same pier I traversed so many times in my youth. That swimming pool is amazing.
Islamic art, architecture and culture. Hey, what is that? Well, you can experience a lot by buying your ticket and visiting Shangri La. I am fortunate to have visited Alhambra in Granada Spain. Also got to visit Morocco. Visit Shangri La and get a taste of Islamic culture without taking a very long plane ride. Thank you, Doris Duke and our Honolulu Museum of Art.

Like quite a few folks who have been to Oahu numerous times, I sometimes wonder why I didn’t find out about or visit the Shangri La Islamic Art House sooner. So in Fall 2014, I finally decided to take a guided tour of the house.
First off, you’ll need to purchase tickets and make online reservations well in advance on the Honolulu Museum of Art’s website, as no visitors who go directly to the house on their own will be admitted. The cost is around $ 25 (plus any applicable fees). Tours last about 2 to 2−½ hours and are only available at 9 AM, 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Shangri La is also closed the entire month of September for repairs and maintenance.
When you get to the Honolulu Museum of Art at Beretania Street and Ward Avenue, you’ll want to park in one of the main lots ($ 5 for parking) and then walk over to the entrance right at the corner of the aforementioned streets, where you’ll check in with the staff on duty. You can view the Islamic Art section of the Honolulu Museum of Art while you’re waiting for the shuttle to get you to your destination.
While aboard the shuttle heading to the Shangri La Islamic Art House, you’ll watch a short film about the history behind it. The ride itself takes about 20 minutes, give or take. Then there are a couple tour guides who will take you throughout the house and give you a behind the scenes tour. My tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable of the house. And boy was the property amazing and it sure felt like you were in heaven, haha! Interior photography is not permitted (and our tour guide informed us about that), but outdoor photography was okay and the exterior lawns and pools were just as incredible as the interior. Lesson from the tour itself (though I already figured this to begin with) is that Islamic art exists everywhere and not just in the Middle East. Such beautiful and inspiring artwork all over the Shangri La Islamic Art House!

Why did I wait so long to visit Doris Duke’s Shangri La!!!
I recently heard they opened up the Mughal Suite so I rushed out to pick up ticket. The entire estate was simply wow, stunning, extraordinary!
I didn’t realized they didn’t open the Mughal Suite to the public until tomorrow. Scored!
Tickets are hard to come by, get them online early if you like to visit this amazing site.
The AC shuttle takes you from Honolulu Academy of Art to Shangri La in a jiffy. The tour guide was pretty awesome!
Goooo!

Really neat place! Its so interesting to see all that Doris Duke collected and how she put it together in her home. Everything is so well taken care of too. The location is gorgeous and they but you into small groups so you can actually have a chance to enjoy the surroundings without lots of noise and people. You could just relax there all day, unfortunately a good chunk of it is still not open to the public and they keep you moving. Its really quite interesting to see all of the Islamic art and décor with a Hawaii backdrop, they really go quite well!
In October they will be opening up her en-​suite and displaying her dagger and jewelry collections, those seem like must sees!

The narrative is my personal experience of my visit. If you are just interested in details that will benefit you during your visit, please scroll down to the «Helpful Tips» section below. Thank you:)
If you appreciate viewing Islamic art while admiring the beautiful oceanfront scenery of Oahu, then this is the place to visit. From the moment that I got off the tour bus, I was in total awe of the surroundings, the artwork outside and inside the estate, and the amount of detail Doris Duke put into accumulating and displaying the various pieces from around the world throughout her beautiful property. Our tour guide (I believe her name is Susan-​an absolutely wonderful, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable woman) greeted us in the driveway of the property and gave us a brief overview of characteristics found in Islamic art by using the art on the door that leads into the home. Once we entered the house, I was immediately amazed by the sunlight shining through the colorful windows (we were told that they were not stained glass windows but painted windows, I believe), the beauty of the décor, and the significant meaning behind every piece displayed-​the furniture, tiles, fixtures, chirography, figurines-​the list goes on and on. As we toured the house, our guide explained the history of the art in a storytelling format which captured my attention for the whole tour. I was so happy that there were no velvet ropes separating us from the furnishings (like there was in different rooms throughout the Hearst Castle). There was just a carpet runner we had to remain on while we were in the living room. We were able to go out into the garden and view the coastline (Diamond Head is among the cliffs in the background) as the waves crash against the rocks. As I sat on the yellow couch in the garden taking in the beauty of the experience and looked out over the ocean, all I could think of is «I’m going to make this happen in my life… of course not on this grand scale since I am not an heiress like Doris Duke, but I want to travel the world collecting art from various cultures and displaying the pieces in my beachfront home one day.» It was such a peaceful treat to have been there. I plan to go back again to view Doris Duke’s bedroom suite once it is restored and included in the tour.
Helpful Tips:
1. Reserve your tickets online anytime. This can be done up to two months in advance. Tours are available Wednesday-​Saturday at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. We got lucky and booked the tour 2 days prior to our visit, but I have been reading that many of the tours sell out quickly and far in advance.
2. Bring along your identification and be ready to present it to the museum personal so it can be matched to name on the online reservation.
3. Since you must ride the tour bus from the Honolulu Museum of Art to Shangri La (15 minute ride), arrive at the museum early enough to find parking and to check-​in. We arrived 30 minutes before the tour bus departed and briskly walked (not strolled-​more like a power walk) for about 10 minutes from our parking spot to the museum. This will allow time to visit the restroom and enjoy a drink at the coffee bar, if desired. Arriving early will give you time to visit the Islamic Arts room at the museum itself. Many small pieces purchased by Doris Duke are on displayed. There is also a film that gives background information to enhance the visit. The same film is played again on the tour bus during the ride to Shangri La, so you might want to spend your time viewing the art on displayed instead.
4. Browse the gift shop, but do not make any purchases until after the tour is over (it is such a hassle to buy and carry around a bunch of stuff when it will still be there in the gift shop once you arrive back at the museum).
5. Since you will be walking most of the time, wear comfortable shoes. Bring a lightweight purse. If you wish, the staff can lock any heavy bags in a cabinet once you arrive at the estate.
6. There is no air conditioning in the estate, so dress accordingly. We were given beautiful souvenir fans upon our arrival to Shangri La. These same fans are also sold in the gift shop for around $ 5 (another reason to not purchase anything from the gift shop until the end of the tour because why buy the fan in the gift shop before the tour when you are given one for free when you get there? :)).
7. Take your camera. Photographs are allowed outdoors, but not indoors.
8. I believe there is an age limit for children to attend. Double check before purchasing tickets. It is my opinion that children under the age of 8 will become easily bored on this tour. As for me, I would take children 10 years or older as they would appreciate the experience more so.
9. Prepare to be Amazed!!!
Enjoy!!! :)

Not sure if it’s worth it. Definitely interesting. But not THAT interesting. A bit over-​hyped. If you have an extra few hours and you love heiresses, then go for it. Otherwise, spend your vacation on the beach.

I was able to purchase the very last ticket for Wednesday, after weeks of it being sold out. We started the tour at the Museum, where we watched a 10 minute documentary on Duke’s life. Once the film was completed, we hopped on the shuttle… where the same movie was played again loll.
Shangri La has to be one of the most beautiful places that I have visited in my life. A review from me would simply not do it justice. In the moments when we had time to ourselves in the garden, I spent that time reflecting on life. In honestly, I am not one of those people who aspire to be a millionaire as much as I just want a happy, healthy family… but after seeing her home, I contemplated what it would be like to live in a residence like this.
If you know in advance that you are coming to Hawaii, start trying to obtain tickets now as they are very hard to come by. I can sit here all day and tell you how beautiful this place is, but you still wouldn’t get its true beauty until you got there and physically experienced it for yourself. The first moment you walk through the front door… WOW!

Don’t go with tour guide Larry! Awful chatterer with no information– this beautiful place deserves someone who can speak to its designs and special pieces without just saying the same thing over and over. I wanted to strangle him. My whole group wanted to strangle him.
Third time here and STILL the private rooms not open– so very limited tour.
No private area or down by the pool pavilion– expensive for such a really brief tour.

I finally know what I want to do when I grow up. I want to be an heiress to a fortune and build my own Islamic beach retreat! Professional athletes and celebrities have been telling me that I can do anything I put my mind to if I just work hard and stay out of trouble. I can’t wait to grow up now.
The Doris Duke House is simply stunning. There are no other words that need to be said about this place. But in case anyone needs convincing, I present some words.
When driving up to this estate, most guests/​tour members will probably by surprised by the conservative nature of the entrance. There is some nice jungle landscaping and a front door, but neither are overly extravagant. When I walked through the front door, my mind was blown as this conservative entrance gives way to the most extravagant house I have ever seen. Literally everything inside of it is beautifully ornate and decorative. The detail in the ceilings and the walls alone could take years to study and fully appreciate. Then there are all of the pieces throughout the house that add to the beauty. There are no guards, cases, even velvet ropes, separating guests from the furniture and art pieces. This makes experiencing them so much more enjoyable because it doesn’t feel like a museum as much as someone’s private collection of priceless Islamic artifacts.
After the interior of the house was comprehended, my tour got to experience another kind of breathtaking beauty — nature! The exterior of the house incorporates local style with the natural glory of the island. I could not imagine actually living in a place that is so extravagant and incredible.
The docents were very friendly and knowledgeable and seemed to have an answer for every question asked of them. The only question they couldn’t answer was «what is the value of the property in today dollars?» I’m sure answer is infinitely priceless, but it would have been an interesting fact to walk out of there with. It would have helped me realize how close I am to reaching my day long dream of becoming an exuberant heiress from the early 20^th century.