1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
Overview
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the flagship property of the 1 Hotels brand, perched on a 22-acre hillside overlooking what many consider the most beautiful bay in Hawaii. After a staggering $300 million transformation, the former St. Regis Princeville reopened in February 2023 as a sustainability-driven luxury resort that has quickly become the benchmark for eco-conscious hospitality in Hawaii. The property earned a Michelin Key and was voted the number one hotel in all of Hawaii by Condé Nast Traveler in both 2023 and 2024.
What makes this hotel genuinely special is how it manages to be both unapologetically luxurious and deeply committed to environmental stewardship. The resort was designed to blend into Kauai's lush landscape rather than dominate it, with a neutral palette of reclaimed teak, sustainable rattan, and native plantings that make the building feel like a natural extension of the North Shore. The renovation salvaged nearly 150 tons of materials through a partnership with Re-Use Hawaii, achieved a 97 percent increase in water efficiency, and earned Hawaii's first Ocean Friendly Hotel certification from the Surfrider Foundation.
The location is extraordinary. From the upper floors and infinity pool, guests look directly out over Hanalei Bay to the dramatic fluted cliffs of Makana Mountain — the "Bali Hai" peak from the film South Pacific. Below the resort, Pu'u Poa Beach provides a semi-private stretch of sand for swimming and snorkeling. The North Shore setting puts guests within easy reach of the Na Pali Coast, Ke'e Beach, and the Kalalau Trail, while the resort's concierge can arrange everything from catamaran tours to helicopter flights over Waimea Canyon.
Accommodation Options
The 252 rooms and suites range from 547-square-foot guest rooms to the expansive 2,947-square-foot Connecting Makana Penthouse. Every room features organic cotton linens, reclaimed teak furniture, sustainable rattan accents, and native greenery. Standard amenities across all categories include complimentary high-speed WiFi (100+ Mbps), HDTV with Chromecast, Nespresso machine, minibar, Bamford bath products, and in-room safe.
The entry-level Mountain View King and Mountain View Two Queen rooms (547-549 sq ft) face the dramatic peaks surrounding Hanalei and are the most affordable option. Ocean View rooms offer the coveted bay views, with the Panoramic Ocean View King providing the widest sightlines. For families or those wanting more space, the Two Queen rooms sleep four guests comfortably.
Moving into the suite tier, the Ocean View Terrace Studio Suite (820 sq ft) adds a private ocean-facing terrace and suite perks including priority restaurant seating. The Ocean View One Bedroom Suite (1,200 sq ft) includes a separate living room, rain shower, and soaking tub. At the top of the hierarchy, the Retreat Collection suites — the Pu'u Poa Ocean Loft (1,798 sq ft, two stories with kitchenette), the Napali House Suite (1,800 sq ft with kitchenette), and the Makana Penthouse (2,400 sq ft with two king bedrooms and private dining room) — come with a dedicated VIP Guru, complimentary airport transfers, $1,000 resort credit, daily breakfast, and complimentary beach equipment rentals.
Pools, Beaches & Activities
The resort has three heated pools and three hot tubs, all available 24 hours and exclusively for registered hotel guests. The crown jewel is the adults-only infinity pool on the eighth floor, where you can float at the edge of the world with Hanalei Bay spread out below and Makana Mountain rising in the distance. An adjacent poolside bar, Kai Maika'i, serves light lunches and tropical drinks.
At beach level, the large family pool complex features in-water lounge chairs, a children's wading area with shallow sections perfect for toddlers, and a separate adults-only section with its own hot tub. The Sandbox restaurant sits right alongside, serving wood-fired pizzas, poke bowls, and fish tacos so you never need to stray far from the water. Full-service cabanas are available for rental.
Beyond the pools, the resort offers an impressive array of complimentary activities. All guests can borrow snorkeling gear, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and surfboards at no charge. The hotel organizes group beach yoga, guided hikes, hula classes, tidepool walks, cultural walks, and outrigger canoe excursions on a 26-foot double-hull canoe. The calmer waters of the Hanalei River make for spectacular kayaking and SUP excursions through a valley framed by waterfalls and taro fields.
Spa & Wellness
The 18,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness Spa is the spiritual heart of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, created in partnership with British wellness pioneer Carole Bamford. Spread across 18 treatment rooms, the spa combines Hawaiian healing traditions with Bamford's award-winning botanical product line. Signature treatments incorporate local ingredients — warm lava stones, Hawaiian alaea salt, Kauai Farmacy's tropical honey, and nutrient-rich island oils — alongside organic facials that blend antioxidant-rich botanicals with advanced skincare technology.
For something truly unique, the Ocean Float Room offers a zero-gravity experience designed to reset the nervous system, while the Somadome Meditation Pod merges ancient healing methods with modern sensory technology for deep stress reduction. A hyperbaric chamber and VitaHealth Lounge round out the cutting-edge touchless therapy offerings. Steam rooms and wet saunas are available to spa guests.
The fitness offering is equally impressive. Anatomy Fitness occupies roughly 10,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor space, founded by former NFL player Marc Megna. The facility is open 24 hours and includes free weights, strength machines, kettlebells, rowing machines, treadmills, spin bikes, and an outdoor jungle gym. Daily programming ranges from high-intensity training and boxing to solar-acro yoga, breathwork, Pilates, martial arts, and Pranic healing sessions.
Dining
The seven dining and beverage venues are all certified Ocean Friendly by the Surfrider Foundation and embrace a farm-and-ocean-to-table philosophy, sourcing ingredients from the hotel's on-site organic garden and neighboring Kauai farms. The signature restaurant, 1 Kitchen, occupies a prime eighth-floor perch and serves hyper-local, sustainably sourced cuisine for breakfast and dinner. The setting — with sweeping views of the bay — makes it one of the North Shore's most memorable dining rooms.
Welina Terrace is the resort's evening gathering spot, an oceanfront lounge serving Japanese-inspired shared plates alongside Hawaiian rums, Japanese whiskeys, agave spirits, and craft beers. Live music from rotating local artists plays Thursday through Saturday, creating an atmospheric setting for sunset cocktails. The Sandbox serves elevated beach fare including wood-fired pizzas, poke bowls, and fish tacos at the beach-level pool.
Casual all-day options include Neighbors Cafe for coffee, breakfast items, and lunch, and The Juice Bar (in partnership with Kauai Juice Company) for cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Wai'oli Cool Treats serves shave ice with organic syrups and locally made gelato — adults can spike theirs with Koloa Rum. Kai Maika'i by 1 Kitchen operates by the adults infinity pool for light lunches and cocktails. In-room dining is available from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.
Golf
While 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay does not have its own golf course, the adjacent Princeville Makai Golf Club provides world-class golf literally next door. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and first opened in 1971, the course underwent a complete renovation in 2009-2010. The spectacular oceanfront par-72 layout stretches over 7,200 yards from the championship tees, with six tee options to accommodate all skill levels, and has been ranked among Golf Digest's Top 100 Greatest Public Courses and National Geographic Traveler's Top 5 Most Scenic Golf Settings in the world.
The hotel offers a dedicated "Golf with a View" stay-and-play package that includes one round of 18 holes for two, premium golf club rentals, GPS cart, two sleeves of premium golf balls, use of the practice facility, roundtrip Audi e-tron transportation to the course, and a $50 dining credit at the 1 Kitchen Bar. Hotel guests also receive preferred tee times and discounted green fees as part of the $59 daily resort fee.
Nearby Attractions
Kauai's North Shore is one of the most scenically dramatic coastlines on earth, and 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay sits at the gateway to it all. The Na Pali Coast — with its towering sea cliffs, hidden valleys, and cascading waterfalls — is just 9 miles away. Boat tours depart directly from Hanalei Bay, running from roughly April through October when winter swells subside. Helicopter tours provide staggering perspectives of Na Pali, Waimea Canyon, and the Wai'ale'ale Crater.
Hanalei Town, a short drive down the hill, is a charming collection of colorful shops, galleries, restaurants, and surf culture. The taro fields of the Hanalei Valley are visible from the famous Hanalei Valley Lookout just minutes from the hotel. Ha'ena State Park (advance reservations required) provides access to Ke'e Beach — one of Kauai's most spectacular swimming and snorkeling spots — and the Kalalau Trail.
Closer to the resort, Queen's Bath is a natural ocean pool reached by a short but steep trail, the Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens spans 240 acres, and Princeville Ranch offers horseback riding on one of Hawaii's oldest working cattle ranches. Anini Beach (4 miles away) provides calm, reef-protected waters ideal for snorkeling, and Limahuli Garden & Preserve showcases 1,500-year-old terraced taro gardens.
Tips & Good to Know
The most important thing to know about 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is that a rental car is essentially mandatory. The North Shore has very limited taxi service and no rideshare to speak of, and the hotel is 30 miles from the airport. Book your car well in advance, especially during peak seasons — Kauai rental cars sell out quickly.
For room selection, the Ocean View categories are worth the upgrade over Mountain View. The bay and mountain views from the ocean-facing side are the defining feature of this property, and you will spend a significant amount of time on your lanai. If budget allows, the Ocean View Terrace Studio Suite at 820 square feet hits the sweet spot between value and the full suite experience. For the adults-only infinity pool, arrive early morning or late afternoon to secure a prime spot.
The best time to visit is May through September, when the North Shore enjoys calmer ocean conditions (making Na Pali boat tours possible from Hanalei), drier weather, and slightly lower rates. Winter brings bigger surf — spectacular to watch from the hotel's clifftop vantage, though beaches can be dangerous for swimming. Book Ha'ena State Park reservations for Ke'e Beach and Kalalau Trail access as far in advance as possible. Be prepared for the resort fee ($59/day) and mandatory valet ($55/night) on top of room rates.
Location
5520 Ka Haku Rd, Princeville, HI 96722
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