The highlight of our day yesterday was a visit to heiress Doris Duke’s mansion-turned museum, now called the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
We were up and out at about 11:30 and headed to the Honolulu Museum of Art, where we were to pick up our tour for Shangri La. Of course, we needed a little sustenance before we began our visit, so we stopped at the museum café. I had a Niçoise salad topped with blackened ahi tuna and my sister had a tasty ham sandwich with avocado. I had a glass of Sauvignon blanc and she had Big Wave Golden Ale from the Kona brewing company, a new favorite. Sorry! I forgot to take photos this time!
The museum itself is lovely and we had time to stroll the exhibits, and, for one of us, make a phone call.
As we got on the bus to drive to the estate, we were given information about her life with a video, which was supplemented later by more details about the art and architecture from our guide Debbie.
Doris Duke was one of the richest little girls in America at age 13 when her father tobacco and hydroelectric power tycoon James Buchanan Duke died. She had the typical childhood and upbringing of one of her class, with a debutant ball in 1930 at age 18 at Rough Point, the family estate at Newport, RI. She married James Cromwell in 1935 and it was on her around-the-world honeymoon that she saw the Taj Mahal and “fell in love” with Islamic art. They stopped in Honolulu, planning to stay just for two weeks but ended up being there several months. She bought five acres of oceanside property for $100,000 near the back side of Diamond Head, which is where she built Shangri La.
She loved Hawaii. She learned to surf under the tutelage of the Kahanamoku brothers and became a family friend. She was a hands-on homeowner, climbing a ladder to a three-story scaffolding to clean the Iranian commissioned murals in the courtyard below:
We were able to see her bedroom and adjoining bathroom, which was assembled in the Middle East and re-assembled In Shangri La. It was jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
Each room is a jewel into itself with indoor-outdoor views amid priceless art works. Here is just a sampling of what we saw. If you’re planning a trip to Honolulu, this is a place you must visit.
For someone who was famous for her wealth and frolicking, this estate offered her the quiet and meditation time she needed with people who let her have her privacy.
We said goodbye to Doris and got back on the bus, heading back to the museum.
Nephew Craig was here when we got back; he had a light day and was able to spend some time with his father.
We had a quiet evening, watching the sun set from the windows.
Today we visit the North Shore.