Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art

Shangri La is the former Honolulu estate of tobacco heiress Doris Duke, now operated as a museum by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Perched on a cliff in the exclusive Kahala neighborhood overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the estate houses one of the most important collections of Islamic art in the United States within a setting that is architecturally stunning and dramatically situated. For families with older children (8+), it offers a completely unique museum experience that combines art, architecture, biography, and an unforgettable oceanfront location.

The estate was built in 1937 as Duke's personal Hawaiian retreat. Over five decades, she filled it with Islamic art and architectural elements collected during extensive travels through the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. Entire rooms are clad in intricate tile work from Iran, Turkey, Morocco, and Spain.

A Mughal-inspired garden features a reflecting pool and fountains. The living room has carved wooden screens from Syria. A bedroom features ceramic tiles from 17th-century Isfahan.

The craftsmanship and color of these installations -- vivid blues, greens, golds, and whites in complex geometric patterns -- are visually stunning even for people (including children) with no background in Islamic art.

The tour is guided-only, lasting approximately 90 minutes, with groups limited to 12-15 people. Tours depart from the Honolulu Museum of Art in downtown Honolulu (not from Shangri La itself), where a shuttle van drives guests to the estate. This structure means the experience is intimate and well-paced.

Guides provide context about both the art and Doris Duke's extraordinary life -- she inherited $100 million in 1925, traveled the world independently as a young woman in the 1930s, was an accomplished surfer, and became a serious art collector. Her story is compelling enough to hold older kids' attention, and the guides are skilled at engaging younger visitors.

The estate's setting is the other half of the experience. The property sits on a rocky point with waves crashing below, and the main lanai (porch) opens to panoramic ocean views. A swimming pool is designed to visually merge with the ocean horizon.

The Mughal garden is lush with tropical plants and the sound of fountains. It is simultaneously a museum, a home, and a fantasy -- the kind of place that makes kids ask, "Someone actually lived here?"

This is best suited for ages 8 and older. The guided tour format requires 90 minutes of walking, listening, and engaging with art and architecture. Children under 8 may find this too long and too hands-off, and the estate contains fragile art that makes running around impossible.

For families with mixed ages, consider having one parent take the older kids to Shangri La while the other takes younger siblings to Waikiki Beach or the Honolulu Zoo.

Tickets are $25 per person (children under 13 free), and reservations at shangrilahawaii.org are required. Tours typically sell out 1-2 weeks in advance, so book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday only.