Crafting Connection: Doris Duke’s Moroccan Commissions presented by the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design and the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts

September 5 – October 6, 2025

Opening Reception: September 5, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA), in partnership with the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design, proudly announces the opening of Crafting Connection: Doris Duke’s Moroccan Commissions on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Honolulu Hale.

This special exhibition celebrates the cultural bonds between Rabat and Honolulu, as well as the broader sister region and sister state agreement between the Council of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer Region and the State of Hawaiʻi. Through historic photographs, interpretive texts, and contemporary perspectives, the exhibition highlights Moroccan architectural commissions crafted in Rabat and installed at Shangri La in the late 1930s.

“Doris Duke envisioned Shangri La as a place where cultures could interact, converse, and inspire one another. This exhibition honors that vision by highlighting the remarkable Moroccan architectural commissions that remain at the heart of Shangri La’s collection,” said Ben Weitz, Director of the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design. “Crafted in Rabat nearly a century ago and installed in Hawaiʻi, these works embody the deep cultural connections between Morocco and our islands.”

The opening program will begin with Hawaiian protocol, grounding the event in place and honoring Hawaiʻi’s host culture. Remarks will follow from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Morocco Honorary Consul Jan Rumi, and Shangri La Director Ben Weitz. A complimentary celebratory lunch and entertainment will conclude the event.

“Honolulu’s sister city relationship with Rabat is a meaningful bridge between our communities, fostering friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding across oceans,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “By sharing these stories of Moroccan craftsmanship here at Honolulu Hale, we strengthen local connections, inspire dialogue, and remind us all of the power of art to bring people together across time, place, and culture.”

“This exhibition of Moroccan arts at Honolulu Hale is a testament to the historically friendly connections between Hawaiʻi and Morocco, including the enduring sister City relationship between Honolulu and Rabat,” said Jan Rumi, Honorary Consul of Morocco and Bangladesh. “It reflects the aloha spirit in action—welcoming beauty, global friendship, and civic diplomacy across oceans. Like a rainbow bridge connecting cultures, this showcase honors the shared values of hospitality, creativity, and unity that bind our communities.”

This event is free and open to the public, offering a unique cultural experience at the heart of Honolulu’s civic center.

Exhibition Dates

• Crafting Connection: Doris Duke’s Moroccan Commissions will be on view at Honolulu Hale from September 5 through October 6, 2025.

Program Schedule

• 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Hawaiian opening protocol and remarks by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Morocco Honorary Consul Jan Rumi, and Shangri La Executive Director Ben Weitz
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Live music by Island Oasis and complimentary lunch provided by Da Spot

For more information, please visit the Shangri La website.

Honolulu Hale is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.