THE LEFT LANE
Duke's legacy inspires

Advertiser Staff and News Services

When the Honolulu Academy of Arts ran a single ad seeking interpretive guides for the soon-to-open Islamic art exhibit at heiress and collector Doris Duke's Kaealawai home, Shangri La, more than 200 people responded and the academy's switchboard was swamped. Because only 24 guides are needed, the academy has cut off applications.

It just shows how eager people are to get a peek at Shangri La.

A partnership announced in November 2001 named the academy the staging center for tours of the home and Duke's collection, which will open to the public Nov. 6. Tours will be by reservation only and will begin at the academy.

When Duke died in 1993, her will created the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art to manage Shangri La, and to promote the study and understanding of Middle Eastern art and cultures.

As a result of support from Duke's legacy, the academy also is renaming its Academy Theater. On July 30, the theater will be named for the heiress.

Oscars moving up

The organization has fielded complaints that the season between nominations and awards is too long, with in-between award shows sapping the Oscars of drama while creating a bitter month of campaigning. Next spring's show remains on track for March 23. The change would come in 2004.

Rapper and a writer

LL Cool J — rap legend, talented actor ... children's author? The artist teamed up with publisher Scholastic and wrote "And the Winner Is," which will be accompanied by a CD of LL rapping to the book's words. It will be released in the fall. "It teaches kids how not to be arrogant when they win and how not to be insecure when they lose," he says. "How to never give up, how to stay persistent."

The book is part of a busy fall for LL. His 10th album, "X," is set for release in September. He's also planning to approach MTV with an "Unplugged" project. But you won't see LL Cool J — who has appeared in such films as "Any Given Sunday," "Kingdom Come" and "Deep Blue Sea" — in the movies anymore. He'll now use his real name, James Todd Smith, for those jobs.