Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design
About This Museum
You'd never guess that tucked away in a lush Honolulu neighborhood is one of the world's most significant collections of Islamic art, all thanks to a tobacco heiress with a spectacularly bold vision. Doris Duke built this place as her personal home, and it feels less like a sterile museum and more like you're exploring the impossibly chic estate of the world's most well-traveled collector. You'll wander from rooms adorned with intricate Moroccan tilework into spaces glowing with the deep blues of Iznik pottery from Turkey. The whole experience is a sensory immersion, where the line between the art and the architecture beautifully blurs.
Collection Highlights
Look for the breathtaking mihrab, or prayer niche, from 13th-century Iran that's entirely covered in shimmering luster tiles. Don't miss the Syrian Room, an entire Damascus-style interior she had shipped over and reconstructed, complete with a carved wooden ceiling and a soothing fountain.
Visitor Information
Heads up, you can't just show up—you have to book your tour online in advance. They run small guided tours throughout the day to preserve the intimate feel of the place.
Architecture & Building
It's a stunning fusion of modern Hawaiian design with traditional Islamic elements; think clean lines and big windows that open onto courtyards, fountains, and gardens filled with tile mosaics and carved marble screens.
Contact & Location
Address: Shangri La, 4055, Papu Circle, Black Point, Kāhala, East Honolulu, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, 96816, United States
Phone: +1 808-734-1941
Website: Visit Website
