Oahu - Shangri-la - Doris Duke's Honolulu Mansion, now a museum full of Islamic Art

Our visit to the Honolulu Museum of Art reminded me that Doris Duke's mansion in Honolulu is now open to the public, with strict limits on the number and times of visitors to help preserve the house and its collections. Turns out the tours are managed by the HMA. Eureka! We traveled by small tour bus across Honolulu to the stunning spot below Diamond Head on the rocky coast.

Duke developed a lifelong love of both Islamic Art and Hawaii on her first honeymoon in the 1930s. She soon built Shangri-la and continued to visit here until the end of her life in the 1990s. For more on D.D. and Shangri-la see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Duke

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri_La_(Doris_Duke)

HMA entrance

Banyan Tree

Shangri-la's Entry Courtyard

Terrific tour guide meets us at the entrance of the house

Doris's bedroom wing overlooking the pool.  

Sadly, the interior  with the stunning tile bath is not part of the tour! See the Shangri-la web site.