Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design

The basics

Plan ahead to visit the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design. Tours are offered four times daily, from Thursdays to Saturdays, and must be reserved in advance. After a brief intro and presentation by docents, you’ll have 75 minutes for a self-guided exploration of the museum and grounds. Tours of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design include same-day entry to the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Things to know before you go

• Reservations are required to visit the museum, and often sell out far in advance. Book early to avoid disappointment.

• Access to the museum is only via a shuttle bus from the Honolulu Museum of Art.

• Children under the age of 8 are not permitted inside the museum.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible but requires advanced notice.

How to get there

The museum is located in Black Point, east of Diamond Head, on Oahu. Aside from separate accommodations for accessible visits made in advance, there is no direct access to the museum. Visitors must take a shuttle bus from the Honolulu Museum of Art at 900 S. Beretania St. in Honolulu, just off Interstate H-1.

When to get there

The museum is open Thursdays to Saturdays, with tour slots at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. The tour experience lasts around two hours and 15 minutes and includes check-in and transfer from the Honolulu Museum of Art and 75 minutes of self-exploration at the museum. Tour reservations are limited and released quarterly on the first Thursday of September, December, March, and June at 10am HST.

Highlights of the collection

Duke built her collection over 60 years. Highlights include a 13th-century lusterware mihrab from Iran, a pair of shaped Mughal carpets, an entire wood-paneled room from Damascus, a Qajar ceiling painting, and the Playhouse, which is a small-scale replica of the Chehel Sotoun Palace. Visitors shouldn’t miss the outdoor areas, including the Mughal Garden and the oceanfront.