1 Hotels, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by Barry Sternlicht, has opened 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, its flagship nature-and-wellness-focused island resort overlooking Kauai’s North Shore in Hawaii.
“Hanalei Bay is the culmination of everything we’ve sought to achieve with the 1 Hotels brand,” said Sternlich, founder/chairman, 1 Hotels. “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.”
The lobby, reception and open-air entranceway are inspired by 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 guestrooms, including 51 suites, feature hand-woven floors fashioned from local black basalt; reclaimed teak and abaca furniture; and traditional punai daybeds. Three signature suites—the two-story Puu Poa Ocean Loft Suite, Napali House Suite and Makana Penthouse—offer ocean and mountain views from private terraces.
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% certified carbon neutral and TRUE zero-waste certified oasis, in line with the brand’s other U.S. properties.
The property’s Wellness Center offers a diverse menu of services from the Bamford Wellness Spa, Anatomy and the 1 Hotels’ Within Collection, whose 22 rooms and suites provide a separate sanctuary to rejuvenate and drive foundational changes, according to the company. Founder/organic pioneer Carole Bamford, worked with the 1 Hotel team to create the 18,000-sq.-ft. Bamford Wellness Spa, which provides an open setting for wellness sessions.
Helmed by former NFL athlete Marc Megna, the 10,0000-sq.-ft. Anatomy fitness center offers personal athletic performance training and body sculpting by specialized Anatomy Body Architects, and the outdoor beachfront jungle gym is fashioned from invasive Albizia wood, extracted from a local forest preserve. Launching on May, 1 x Vitahealth Medi Spa will offer a 360-degree integrated medicine program.
The property has seven sustainable food venues, including 1 Kitchen and Wellness Terrace, and offers a range of athletic activities, from tennis and pickleball to golf on its Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Princeville Makai Golf Club.