1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
Hotel · Princeville ·
Oceanfront sanctuary offering wellness, dining, golf, pools, and beach access
Oceanfront sanctuary offering wellness, dining, golf, pools, and beach access
"Perched on cliffs with postcard views of Hanalei Bay, this luxury-and-wellness-forward retreat still caters beautifully to families, with a sprawling main pool lined with full-service cabanas and chaise loungers and a shallow pool for littles, plus an adults-only infinity pool and hot tub on the eighth floor for when you can sneak away. Puʻu Poa Beach sits just below for snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming, and the hotel layers on adventures like outrigger canoe tours, pickleball lessons, and guided hikes—the nearby Wai Koa Loop Trail, with its mahogany forest and stone dam, is a kid-pleaser. What truly sets this place apart is Seedlings Aloha Camp, a reservation-required program Monday through Saturday for ages 5 to 12 that teaches nature and sustainability through gardening, tide-pool explorations, and making art from upcycled beach trash." - Catherine Toth Fox
"A wellness‑forward beachfront escape where design and sustainability lead the way, this modern‑bohemian haven features airy interiors woven with natural fibers and plants, easy access to swimming, snorkeling, and surfing, indulgent spa and pool time, and even its own golf course framed by tropical mountains." - Shelby Wax
"Trading my sweatpants-and-Birkenstocks uniform for dresses and beach coverups, I arrived at 27 weeks and spent six days immersed in a serene, wellness-first escape where birds and waves woke us and afternoon rainbows drifted over waterfall-streaked cliffs. As the brand’s only Hawaiian property, it feels like a true health-and-wellness destination: locally sourced food, filtered water taps in every room, and organic, natural materials are woven through a layout that maximizes jungle-green views. The island ethos of kuleana and mālama shows up in real ways, from partnerships with Kauai’s farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to give-back excursions in the monthly programming. I eased in with a private Sacred Sound Journey—“You deserve to feel good, you deserve to rest,” our guide Rebecca encouraged—and kept returning for pregnancy-considerate movement classes where instructors had bolsters prepped for shavasana and, elsewhere, staff anticipated needs with thoughtful touches like a Frida pregnancy pillow in our room and pregnancy-safe swaps in my treatments. The spa and gym are cutting-edge and earthy at once, with Bamford’s traditional and touchless therapies, Vitality Kaua‘i med spa options, meditation pods, a float room my husband booked twice for an “out of body experience,” VO2 max testing, an infrared sauna, and even a beach gym built from invasive trees, plus options like IV infusions, hyperbaric oxygen, crystal healing, and guided hikes; I loved my hāpai massage (my therapist closed with, “I hope you’re feeling like a queen, because you are a queen”) and a personalized facial with gua sha, a quartz roller, and warm-and-cold stones that visibly improved my skin. Between sunrise movement classes held beachside or in a window-lined studio and easy beach walks, snorkeling, and paddleboarding, I left feeling restored, re-energized, and genuinely cared for, with the hotel’s nature-forward design and community-minded programs giving the whole stay a quietly spiritual, welcoming glow." - Claudia Fisher Claudia Fisher Claudia Fisher writes, edits, and strategizes for women's lifestyle publications in NYC, with a special interest in beauty and style. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This Kauai resort has all the ingredients for a magical Hawaiian getaway—swimmable beach out front, a legendary surf break a short paddle away, stunning pools (including a sleek adults-only option), strong on-site bars and restaurants, easy access to nearby hiking and a cute town—and what sets it apart is its bona fide wellness focus: cutting-edge medi-spa offerings and robust fitness and mind/body programming. Guest rooms are sand-hued with reclaimed teak and island touches, service is casual but professional, and staff happily share local recommendations." - Jessica Sulima
"One of Kauaʻi’s buzzy recent openings (2023), 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay blends biophilic design with elevated service and is described as visually soothing at every turn." - Rachel Cheng