KAUAI, HAWAII—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces the opening of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, its flagship nature-and-wellness-focused island oasis overlooking a storied stretch of Kauai’s North Shore. Guests seeking solace and serenity at this sustainable sanctuary can swim, snorkel, bike, paddle, kayak, soak up the sun and surf off a legendary beach where Native Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature for generations and a laidback surf scene still thrives. The dramatic peaks of the Namolokama and Mamalahoa mountains loom over a verdant valley whose iconic waterfalls capture the breathtaking bounty and beauty of Hawaii’s famed “Garden Island.”
“Hanalei Bay is the culmination of everything we’ve sought to achieve with the 1 Hotels brand,” said 1 Hotels’ Founder and Chairman Barry Sternlicht. “What makes the opening of this property such a special moment for me is that my family and I vacationed in the area for decades. When I first visited, I found the existing hotel not in keeping with its natural landscape. I had a vision of creating an extraordinary resort that would combine the magic of a lush native landscape with the region’s rich culture and history. We’ve brought that vision to life with a unique hospitality experience that pays tribute to these wonderful local traditions where nature is the CEO, where the building integrates with the boundless beauty of its surroundings, and all our guests can experience the wellness, soothing and healing properties of the extraordinary island of Kauai.”
Biophilic Design & Inspiration
“If you can’t find it in nature, you won’t find it here” is the biophilic design principle that inspired the resort’s $300 million imaginative transformation, in line with the brand mission to connect people, place and nature. Indigenous and endemic vines and plants weave through low-impact structures that blend softly and seamlessly into their surroundings, causing the hotel to virtually vanish into its cliffside site. The multi-year conservation plan replaced non-native and invasive species with wildlife-friendly vegetation including white hibiscus and nau, native to the Hawaiian Islands. Conscious conservation techniques naturally narrate the sacred story of the Polynesian people, restoring nearly a third of the site with native and adapted vegetation.
The lobby, reception, and open-air entranceway lead guests on a journey deep into Hawaiian history and mythology. Much of the original building was removed and replaced with streams and gardens. Reclaimed teak joists, puka lava stone walls and ceilings hand-woven from abacá, a natural leaf fiber harvested from a cousin of the banana tree, are locally sourced.
The oasis’ 252 airy and nature-inspired rooms, including 51 suites, evoke a sense of sacred place and space with hand-woven floors fashioned from local black basalt, reclaimed teak and abaca furniture and traditional punai daybeds. Three spacious signature suites—the two-story Puu Poa Ocean Loft Suite, Napali House Suite, and Makana Penthouse—serve ocean and mountain views from private terraces. Every interior detail lends texture and frames panoramic vistas—visible through oversized openable windows—of the shimmering crescent-shaped Bay.
Sustainability
Opting for reconstruction as opposed to new construction enabled opening the resort to the sky, warmly embracing the property’s astounding natural surroundings while diverting waste away from landfills. In collaboration with local partner RE-use Hawaii, nearly 150 tons of on-site furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other materials were salvaged, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is on track to operate as a 100 percent Certified Carbon Neutral and TRUE zero-waste certified oasis, in-line with the brand’s other U.S. properties.
The sprawling winged structure’s verdant green roofs reduce and filter stormwater runoff, mitigate heat island effects and improve air quality through carbon sequestration. Planted with pili grass, pohinahina and nanea, the roofs host an organic chef’s garden from which fresh herbs, vegetables and micro-greens are harvested for culinary creations. Tree canopies harbor bird-and-bee-friendly candlenuts (kukui), breadfruit (ulu) and banana (maia) trees, bearing an abundance of fruit served fresh to guests.
A Holistic Wellness Destination
The integrated approach is centered around a heartfelt connection with nature and conscious cultivation of serenity. The expansive Wellness Center offers a diverse menu of services, models and methods individually tailored to fulfill a guest’s preferences and medical, physical, and spiritual needs. Transformative experiences are offered by the Bamford Wellness Spa, Anatomy, and the 1 Hotels’ Within Collection, a curated category of hospitality for guests seeking multi-day and a’ la carte wellness journeys.
Founder and organic pioneer, Carole Bamford, worked with the 1 Hotel team to create an 18,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness Spa which provides an open, serene setting for wellness sessions designed to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Under the care of expert therapists, transformative body treatments inspired by local culture use specially formulated products made from Native Hawaiian medicinal plants and natural and organic ingredients. Touchless therapies enable guests to achieve a range of wellness goals within one destination. Services include a cryotherapy chamber, hyperbaric chamber, infrared saunas with halotherapy, Dreampod ice baths, a Somadome meditation pod, and a salt pod flotation chamber.
Helmed by former NFL athlete Marc Megna, the 10,000 square-foot Anatomy fitness center offers state-of-the-art 24/7 cardio equipment and strength training, mind and movement group classes, a dedicated spin/all function room, and personal athletic performance training and body sculpting by specialized Anatomy Body Architects. The outdoor beachfront jungle gym is fashioned from invasive Albizia wood, extracted from a local forest preserve, providing a natural, open air oceanfront free weight experience. Indoor and outdoor yoga spaces offer a therapeutic environment in which to relax, rejuvenate and restore. All support a variety of practices, in individual and group settings, and open or guided meditation sessions.
Launching in May 2023, 1 x Vitahealth Medi Spa offers a 360-degree integrated medicine program that nurtures health from the inside out, powered by an expert team of doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners specializing in accurate, meaningful, safe hormonal testing and consulting. The menu of holistic treatment options includes Peptide Cosmetic Therapy (promotes weight loss, accelerates healing, reduces inflammation, produces collagen) Hormone Regulation Therapy (HRT) (improves sleep, lowers anxiety), Brain Health Therapy (enhances focus, memory and cognition), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (restores energy and vitality) Neuro/Adrenal Testing and Consultation, Gastrointestinal, Nutritional, and Anti-Aging testing and analysis.
1 Hotels’ Within Collection & Retreats
1 Hotels’ Within Collection’s 22 rooms and suites provide a separate sanctuary to invigorate, rejuvenate and drive foundational changes that last a lifetime. The integrative approach to wellness infuses culinary, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing with a sense of adventure. Sound therapeutic practices, enhanced by advanced wellness technologies, form the foundation of personalized journeys. These combine outdoor activities such as guided hikes with counseling sessions led by wellness sages to align mind, body, nature and spirit. The property’s Retreat program will launch in May 2023 with fitness and lifestyle wellness brand XPT Life, designed by famed big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and former professional volleyball player and inspirational spokeswomen of athleticism, Gabby Reece.
Taste
The enticing flavors at the property’s seven sustainable food venues support a deep-rooted mission to honor the rich local culture and centuries of Native Hawaiian tradition. All tell extraordinary stories of land and sea through seasonal cuisine sourced from Kauai and neighboring islands. All feature the freshest, most delectable organic ingredients, many grown in the on-site chef’s garden and apiaries. Community farms and local fishers and purveyors harvest ingredients for culturally attuned chefs.
Dining options include 1 Kitchen, an all-day restaurant; Welina Terrace celebrating Hawaii’s multi-cultural heritage through modern Japanese cuisine; poolside dining at The Sandbox; Kai Maikai, a snack bar; Neighbors, the all-day grab-and-go; Waioli, serving shave ice desserts; The Juice Bar; and the Lobby Farmstand stocked daily with local produce.
Immersive Daylife Experiences
Daylife incorporates once-in-a-lifetime experiences, encouraging guests to explore the abundant nature and culture both within our footprint and beyond our boundaries. Programs include classes with artists-in-residence, bird watching, forest bathing, archery, natural sound bathing, surfing, river kayaking, scenic hikes and mountain biking with views that stay with you long after you leave.
The most extraordinary natural asset of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the Bay itself. A world-class surfing destination that uniquely welcomes surfers from novices to world champions, from its near-shore sand bottom waves for beginners, and challenging sand bars and reef breaks for advanced surfers. The Bay’s year-round conditions spectacularly suit surfers at all levels. Guests can swim and sun at one of the three saline pools—the main pool is just steps from the sand.
As part of 1 Hotels’ ongoing partnership, fully electric Audi e-tron vehicles will serve as the Official Electric Vehicle of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Guests are welcome to enjoy the Audi Experience while taking advantage of the house chauffeur vehicle or test driving the e-tron during their stay. Both bikes and e-bikes are available for guests to explore the stunning surroundings, including laidback Hanalei, a bohemian, rustic, unspoiled, quintessential surf town.
To assure that all guests have access to the wide range of experiences offered, and to provide clarity and stress-free travel planning, the property does not include hidden resort fees in pricing. Beyond the many included experiences, team members will gladly curate bespoke island journeys. At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, authentic regenerative tourism is practiced. Dedicated team members support that commitment by collaborating with local proprietors, farmers, fishers, artists, and culture carriers to engage the team and guests to give back through meaningful experiences that not only enrich individual lives but contribute to the conservation initiatives and goals of the island.
