Voted One of the State’s Best

Source: travelandleisure.com

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is as green as they come, with lush plantings, incredible snorkeling, and a vast wellness program.

When I arrived at the tip of Kauaʻi’s North Shore with my mom and young son, we were tired from the long journey from the East Coast. Our flight on Hawaiian Airlines — direct from New York to Honolulu, followed by a super short connection to Kauaʻi — was pleasant enough, but it was still exhausting at more than 10 hours. But as soon as we saw 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s verdant garden with trickling waterfalls and volcanic rocks on a rocky cliff jutting into the Pacific Ocean, we perked up. The shot of locally made Koloa coconut rum paired with fresh juice we were given at reception also helped.

If you remember the St. Regis Princeville that this property used to be, you’ll hardly recognize it post-1 Hotel makeover, which took several years and many millions of dollars (1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opened in 2023). The bright white and marble are gone, replaced by blend-in-with-the-surroundings neutral tones and lush native plants that reach from the ground, up the living walls, and to the rooftop herb gardens. However, sustainability goes beyond design here, and the brand’s ethos fits perfectly with Kauaʻi’s spirit.

Touches in the rooms like recycled cardboard hangers, carefully selected crystals, artfully hung hula grass skirts, and yes, more greenery, keep that eco-friendliness top of mind, but none of it sacrifices the luxury either, which comes in the form of rainfall showerheads, lofty pillowtop mattresses, comfy robes and slippers, and welcome amenities like local banana bread and fresh fruit.

Service and staff are low-key in that laid-back, Hawaiʻi way, which is not to say that they are lacking — they’re just not stuffy. Similarly, guests are relaxed enough not to dress to the nines for dinner, but it’s clear the clientele has money to spend.

The heart of the hotel is the sprawling main pool and its three hot tubs, but there are always enough loungers to go around, as we happily discovered. The beach is similarly full with snorkelers and sun worshippers, although be aware that this side of the island typically gets rain at least once a day. Luckily, it’s often a brief sprinkle that ends with a rainbow.

While the ocean and its legendary surf breaks attract plenty of guests, this hotel also brings a wellness-seeking crowd (myself included) thanks to its substantial and excellent spa facilities and programming. From hands-on body treatments to cutting-edge, no-touch therapies, the spa menu is miles long. Plus, the diverse daily fitness and wellness classes are nearly all complimentary, as is the use of the spa’s saunas and steam rooms and the massive fitness center. If the beach didn’t beckon, I could’ve easily spent my whole vacation in the wellness center. Here's my review of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.

What We Like

You can see the ocean and mountain backdrop (and oodles of lush plantings) from nearly every part of the resort.
The expansive spa has a lengthy treatment menu
The Hawaiian shave ice stand by the pool is a refreshing treat after a long day in the sun.
There’s excellent snorkeling — and tide pools filled with marine life — at the beach.

The Rooms
Since I was traveling with my mom and 8-year-old son, we decided on an oceanview room with two queen beds (I was the unlucky one to share with my son, who likes to kick in his sleep). There was a cozy daybed against the massive window looking out onto Hanalei Bay, and the plush beds, clad in organic cotton sheets, were extremely comfortable.

The color palette of the room, like the rest of the hotel, featured tones of tans, grays, and browns, but it was the textures — rough-hewn reclaimed teak, woven rope, braided reed, volcanic rocks — that gave the nature-inspired design its depth. The carefully placed potted plants and crystals (for positive energy, as the staff member who showed me my room noted) were ideal minimalist accents. One of my favorite touches that reminded me I was in Hawaiʻi without being too obvious or tacky was the dried grass skirt hung like a tapestry. The bathroom — lined with bumpy volcanic rocks — was roomy, and the rainfall shower had a window on one side that would allow for views straight out to the ocean if the blinds were raised on it.

The hotel has 252 rooms, including 51 suites, with various views and configurations. Like mine, the color palette and furniture are neutral and natural throughout. All rooms have yoga mats, cozy sweatshirt-like hooded robes and slippers, Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machine, and Bamford bath products. Greenery also comes standard.

Suites feature separate sitting areas and larger bathrooms with soaking tubs; some have kitchenettes, dining rooms, and terraces. Certain suites also have perks like priority seating at hotel restaurants, complimentary mini-bar snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, and complimentary beach activity rentals, while the highest level, which is part of the Retreat Collection, includes complimentary spa treatments, daily breakfast, a dedicated concierge, and more.

Food and Drink
The hotel has six food and beverage outlets. Neighbors Café is a health-focused grab-and-go breakfast and lunch cafe, which can be found at all 1 Hotel locations. You order at the counter, and aside from a robust coffee menu, there are smoothies, fresh juices, and dishes like overnight oats, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. There are counters with seats, and if you have to catch up on emails, this would be the place to do it with a cup of coffee made from locally grown and roasted beans by Hanalei Coffee Roaster.

If you find yourself by the pool or beach craving lunch, the Sandbox has fare like poke, fish tacos, and pizza from a wood-burning oven. Adjacent is Wai’Oli, the shave ice stand we visited nearly every day. It has traditional Hawai’ian shave ice with various flavors and toppings, soft serve, and gelato. The Juice Bar is by the gym and offers cold-pressed juices from Kauaʻi Juice Co., plus coffee, tea, and kombucha.

Oceanview Restaurant Welina Terrace at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

The signature restaurant is 1 Kitchen, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and faces the ocean and its surf breaks. It focuses on local, seasonal ingredients and has a chalkboard displaying the local catches of the day. A robust breakfast buffet with local specialties like ube pancakes, loco moco, tropical fruit, and rotating flavors of delectable malasadas (fried doughnuts with fillings like coconut and passion fruit that originated in Portugal) is also available. Lunch brings salads and sandwiches, while dinner has homemade pasta and grilled and roasted proteins, with several fish options and an excellent selection of locally grown vegetables as sides. Cocktails skew tiki and feature fresh juices and premium liquors.

Welina Terrace is only open for dinner and has a more adult-only feeling, although children are allowed to dine here (but there’s no kids' menu here, as at the other restaurants). It has a large bar and a smattering of small tables that spill out onto the terrace facing the ocean — and sunset. In fact, there is a nightly sunset ritual with a traditional Hawaiian hula (leaning more romantic than cheesy), and certain nights bring local musicians. The menu features small Japanese-inspired dishes like sushi rolls, nigiri, shishito peppers, and wagyu tataki. Cocktails include a large agave-inflected selection and a menu of sake and Japanese whisky, along with wines and other spirits. Both here and 1 Kitchen feature a short zero-proof cocktail menu as well — my son loved the All Pina No Colada.

Activities and Experiences
The large central pool with several rock and waterfall features and the sandy beach are the places to be, and there are beach activities like snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. There is also an adults-only infinity pool on the upper level. If you need a break from the sun, there is a daily calendar full of primarily free activities like paint and sip, lau hala bracelet weaving, a Mai Tai workshop, lei making, and nature walks, plus tons of wellness classes ranging from sunrise yoga to hot pilates to sound baths to cardio boxing.