oris Duke’s interest in Hawaiian and Islamic cultures was far removed from the East Coast social circle in which she was raised. The financial success of her father, James Buchanan Duke, propelled her into the society of other wealthy families of the industrial age. Doris Duke’s position was one of privilege, and her life was, consequently, of great public interest.

When her father died in 1925, she inherited the bulk of his estate, and was dubbed “the richest girl in the world.” The sobriquet was one of both sympathy and censure, yet this new identity provided Duke with a rare independence for a woman of her time.

Adventurous, intelligent, independent and athletic, Duke was determined not to be defined by social expectations or her wealth. At the same time, she enjoyed the freedom her wealth provided to pursue her many interests, which included travel, the arts, historic preservation, environmental conservation, wildlife and horticulture. Upon her death in 1993, Duke, a philanthropist at heart, left the majority of her estate to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and created the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art to manage Shangri La and open it to the public.

Travels in the Islamic World

In 1935 at age 22, Doris Duke married James Cromwell and embarked on a honeymoon tour of the world. Traveling through the Middle East and South Asia for the first time, Duke was fascinated by the rich cultural traditions she encountered, particularly the Islamic ones. These early travels sparked her lifelong passion for collecting and living with Islamic art. Her appreciation and interest in the Islamic world grew during repeated travels to Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Lebanon, India and other countries.

At Home in Hawaii

In August 1935, Doris Duke and James Cromwell arrived at the final stop on their honeymoon tour – the U.S. Territory of Hawaii. Attracted by the islands’ natural beauty and relaxed social environment, they extended their stay by four months. In the company of the multitalented Kahanamoku family and a small circle of Hawaiian friends, Doris Duke enjoyed surfing, paddling canoes, sailing, playing Hawaiian music and traveling around the Hawaiian Islands. In April 1936, she purchased a spectacular, 4.9-acre piece of property to build a seasonal residence in Honolulu. It was the same spot where she had spent leisurely days picnicking, surfing and swimming.

Photographs and home movies from the late 1930s and early 1940s show Duke and her friends engaged in fun and sports at Shangri La - swimming in the pool or ocean below, dining outdoors, and simply enjoying time together. The loyal friendships that she enjoyed with her Hawaiian friends brought Duke back each year. As she grew older, Duke entertained small groups of friends at quiet dinner parties, and periodically hosted larger parties to celebrate important events.

Sam Kahanamoku, Doris Duke, James Cromwell and unknown man in Waikiki, c. 1935-1937. Courtesy of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Archives.