The former home of heiress Doris Duke becomes Shangri La, a museum of Islamic art and design. The five-acre site is on the ocean with beautifully landscaped grounds. Access is via a fifteen-minute bus ride from the Honolulu Museum of Art. A reservation and additional ticket are required for Shangri La.
The craftmanship of the architectural details is outstanding. Highlights include carved marble panels, amazing detailed walls, ceilings and columns, tile settings on the floors and walls, rare vases and other artwork.
Tour is largely self-guided. Three docents were onsite to answer questions. There were three short oral presentations in the introduction gallery, the central courtyard and the Mihrab gallery. All three presentations were worthwhile. The new Qajar gallery was my favorite.