With a New Partnership and Ticket System, It’s Now Easier to Explore One of the Most Unique Museums in Hawaiʻi
The Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design on Oʻahu is expanding tour offerings thanks to a collaboration with Bishop Museum.
There is a surprising treasure trove of world history nestled on the slopes of Lēʻahi on Oʻahu. And thanks to a new partnership with Bishop Museum, there are now more opportunities to explore Shangri La Musuem of Islamic Art, Culture & Design—the former estate of the billionaire heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke.
The late Duke led a colorful life filled with pursuits ranging from horticulture to surfing, alongside extensive world travels. Her trips resulted in an impressive and priceless art collection. Today, her former home, Shangri La, is a museum adorned with extraordinary treasures gathered across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Shangri La has a collection of art and artifacts gathered by Doris Duke during her world travels.
Photo: Courtesy of Shangri La
Founded in the 1930s and overseen by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the estate is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Islamic art. From residencies and fellowships to immersive experiences, Shangri La is committed to fostering connection across communities.
Currently, tours of Shangri La are offered through the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) on Thursdays and Fridays. Beginning in October, through a new partnership with Bishop Museum, tours will also be offered on Saturdays—expanding access to one of Hawaiʻi’s most unique cultural destinations.
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“Bishop Museum is honored to join this partnership and provide additional opportunities for locals and visitors to explore and enjoy the museums of Hawaiʻi,” said Brandon Bunag, Ed.D, vice president of public programs and interim director of education at Bishop Museum. “As co-hosts of the Shangri La program, Bishop Museum proudly extends our role as a gathering place for cultural learning and community connection.”
This refreshed visitor experience continues Shangri La’s long-standing relationship with HoMA. “For more than twenty years, HoMA has partnered with Shangri La to create meaningful, transformative experiences through art, history and natural beauty. It is a privilege to continue to do so while expanding the program’s reach with Bishop Museum. Collaborations like this only strengthen Hawai‘i’s arts ecosystem,” said Kim Hutchison, head of visitor engagement at HoMA, in a news release.
With a refreshed ticket model and expanded tour offerings, Shangri La is hoping to provide more flexibility and availability to visit the estate.
Photo: Courtesy of Shangri La
To further improve accessibility for kamaʻāina and better accommodate shorter planning windows for visitors, Shangri La has also introduced a new monthly ticket system. Tickets will go on sale the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. HST, beginning Sept. 4, 2025, replacing the previous three-month advance booking model. In addition, all tours can now be booked through a centralized platform on the Shangri La website, streamlining the ticketing process. The goal of these updates is to offer more flexibility and availability.
Each 75-minute tour of Shangri La includes round-trip shuttle transportation from Bishop Museum or HoMA, semi-guided exploration of the galleries and grounds, and same-day admission to the hosting partner institution.
Kamaʻāina tickets are $20 on Thursday and Friday for tours hosted by HoMA and $25 for Saturday tours hosted by Bishop Museum. General admission is $45 for non-residents at both host institutions. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Thursday, Sept. 4th at 10 a.m. HST. For more information, visit shangrilahawaii.org.
