Top 10 Favorite Attractions on Oahu – #10: Doris Duke’s Shangri La

10. Doris Duke’s Shangri La

Photo by Flickr user LFL16

What is Shangri La? From the official website:

Built in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1937, Shangri La overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head and houses Doris Duke’s collection of Islamic art. Of Duke’s many residences, Shangri La is the only one that she built from the ground up and filled from the inside out.

Doris Duke decided to build a seasonal home in Honolulu after her honeymoon in 1935, which took her through the Islamic world for the first time and included an extended stay in Hawaii. Finding herself captivated by Islamic cultures and enamored with Hawaii, Doris Duke designed her new home in collaboration with architect Marion Sims Wyeth to evoke the beauty and character of each.

I lived here for several years before I finally visited Shangri La with my mom, who was visiting from the mainland. It’s a little pricey ($25 per person*), but it’s worth it. You go to the Honolulu Academy of Arts in the heart of Honolulu, and from there a comfortable shuttle bus takes you to the estate.

The house is just gorgeous and the grounds are beautiful as well. The guide was quite knowledgeable and we moved through the house at a good pace. Since then I’ve taken several guests to this unique estate and they’ve all been very impressed and wonder why it isn’t better known among both residents and visitors.

Tip: make sure you bring some insect repellent, as we got eaten alive by mosquitoes in some of the gardens!

*Bonus: Admission to the Honolulu Academy of Arts is included with your ticket to Shangri La, so you can do the tour first thing in the morning, grab lunch at the Pavilion Cafe, then check out the Academy itself, which has one of the finest Asian art collections in the U.S.

Check out the Doris Duke Shangri La website: www.shangrilahawaii.org