1 Hotels has opened 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, its flagship nature- and wellness-focused island hotel overlooking the north shore of Kauai in Hawaii.
“Hanalei Bay is the culmination of everything we’ve sought to achieve with the 1 Hotels brand,” founder and Chairman Barry Sternlicht said in a statement. “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.”
Design Principles
"If you can’t find it in nature, you won’t find it here" is the design principle that inspired the resort’s $300 million 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 into their surroundings. The multiyear conservation plan replaced non-native and invasive species with wildlife-friendly vegetation including white hibiscus and nau, native to the Hawaiian Islands.
The lobby, reception, and open-air entranceway display 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 252 nature-inspired rooms, including 51 suites, have hand-woven floors fashioned from local black basalt, reclaimed teak and abaca furniture and traditional punai daybeds. Three signature suites have ocean and mountain views from private terraces.
Opting for reconstruction as opposed to new construction enabled opening up the resort, embracing the property’s 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 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 also support an organic chef’s garden from which fresh herbs, vegetables and micro-greens are harvested for the hotel's food and beverage program. Tree canopies provide bird-and-bee-friendly candlenuts (kukui), breadfruit (ulu) and banana (maia) trees that are also served on-site.
Wellness Center
The Wellness Center has a menu of services, models and methods that can be individually tailored. The Center includes the Bamford Wellness Spa, Anatomy and the 1 Hotels’ Within Collection.
Founder Carole Bamford worked with the 1 Hotel team to create an 18,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness Spa. Services include a cryotherapy chamber, hyperbaric chamber, infrared saunas with halotherapy, Dreampod ice baths, a Somadome meditation pool and a salt pod flotation chamber.
Helmed by former NFL athlete Marc Megna, the 10,000-square-foot Anatomy fitness center has 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 Anatomy Body Architects. The outdoor beachfront jungle gym is made 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 for relaxing. All support a variety of practices, in individual and group settings, and open or guided meditation sessions.
Launching in May, 1 x Vitahealth Medi Spa offers an integrated medicine program that nurtures health from the inside out, powered by an expert team of doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioner.
F&B
The property’s seven sustainable food venues serve seasonal cuisine sourced from Kauai and neighboring islands. Community farms and local fishers and purveyors harvest ingredients for our culturally attuned chefs.
Dining options include 1 Kitchen, an all-day restaurant; Welina Terrace, serving 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.