HONOLULU (KHON2) — A partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts and the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design has resulted in the opening of a special exhibit on Sept. 5 at Honolulu Hale.
The exhibit, “Crafting Connection: Doris Duke’s Moroccan Commissions,” will celebrate the cultural ties between Honolulu and its sister city of Rabat, Morocco.
Historic photos, texts and contemporary interpretations will be the centerpieces of the exhibit, aimed at highlighting Moroccan architectural commissions made in Rabat and put in at the Shangri La in the 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, the museum’s director. “Crafted in Rabat nearly a century ago and installed in Hawaiʻi, these works embody the deep cultural connections between Morocco and our islands.”
The exhibit’s opening will begin with a program with Hawaiian protocol, remarks from Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Morocco Honorary Consul Jan Rumi, Weitz and a celebratory meal with entertainment.
“Honolulu’s sister city relationship with Rabat is a meaningful bridge between our communities, fostering friendship, cultural exchange and mutual understanding across oceans,” Blangiardi said. “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.”
Rumi shared similar sentiments, saying the exhibit highlights aloha and diplomacy.
“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,” Rumi said. “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.”
The opening event for the exhibit is free for the public to attend, and will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Honolulu Hale. The exhibit will be on display from Sept. 5 to Oct. 6.