Paradise Awaits on the Island of Kauaʻi

An Unrivaled Wellness Journey

By Hailey Bethke | Photography Courtesy of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

The anfractuous road ahead of me is the island’s welcoming salute. It twists to offer a wink of the shimmering sea below before veering left towards the final property on Princeville’s peninsula. A brief exchange at the gates leads me to my final destination, just beyond the lush greenery and signature 1 Hotels emblem.

M y car door is opened by the smiling faces of gracious staff, offering the second official welcome to the island of Kauaʻi. A kukui nut lei is draped around my neck as a warm gesture of peace, protection, and guidance before I am led through the open-air reception. Sweeping views of Hanalei Bay and Makana Mountain unfold through floor-to-ceiling glass windows, with numerous outdoor terraces and pools to take in the seascape. It’s a meditative experience that pulled me in time and time again throughout my stay: a raw, human fascination with the natural beauty of the elements.

The 1 Hotels Brand is recognized worldwide for prioritizing sustainability while providing luxury amenities and finishes. After acquiring the 252-room St. Regis Princeville Resort in 2018, the brand invested over $300 million into a five-year gut renovation of the property. Recently opened in February 2023, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay seamlessly blends into the natural surroundings with open-concept living spaces, neutral color palettes, and thoughtful biophilic design principles.

Departing from the dated 1970s architecture of other hotels in the area, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay seeks to prioritize the success of the local community while preserving the lush flora and fauna of the Garden Isle. While Hawaii comprises 137 different islands, Kaua’i is the eldest of its five major island siblings: the island of Hawai’i (“The Big Island”), O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lāna’i, and Maui.

Globally recognized interior designer Nicole Hollis mindfully curated each of the 252 guest rooms and community spaces in a minimalistic style that pays homage to the Hawaiian people. Hollis and her team selected Kaua’i-sourced elements like basalt and puka lava stone while supporting local artisans in creating custom textiles and ceramics for each room.

My oceanview terrace suite was absolute heaven. A sliding door opened onto the private outdoor seating area overlooking Hanalei Bay, where keen eyes may witness a fleeting rainbow in the distant island rainfall. This quickly became one of my favorite aspects of my stay: lounging on the chaise with a book or cold-pressed juice from Anatomy (the hotel’s fitness complex), watching the surfers dip over the waves in the distance.

Every room is finished with sustainably sourced bedding, cotton slippers and robes, and signature bath products designed in the hotel’s award-winning holistic spa. But the most unexpected surprise was the plethora of biohacking tools stationed throughout my room for ultimate renewal and vitality, alongside beautiful amethyst and quartz crystals. Exclusive partnerships with leading wellness brands like HigherDOSE and Hyperice Percussion Massager allow guests to elevate their health with cutting-edge red light face masks, PEMF crystal mats, meditation cushions, percussion massagers, compression recovery boots, weighted blankets, white noise machines, and more. I found myself reaching for these tools each night, whether to optimize sleep for the night ahead or to aid in the recovery of sore muscles after a day of hiking or one of the hotel’s on-site workout classes.

This overarching theme of wellness shines through dozens of thoughtful details throughout my stay, thanks to a newly pioneered Within Wellbeing program at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. On-staff health experts will curate a personal Journey for your unique needs and goals, fulfilled by the talented practitioners, board-certified physicians, chefs, and trainers across the property. Aligned with the hotel’s greater intention of healing through nature, the ethos of the Within Wellbeing is to allow nature to be your guide, taking you outdoors so you can connect inwards.

Your Journey may include cooking classes (check out my interview with Chef Hollan Goewey, who offers bespoke plant-based cooking classes for guests, in VIE’s April 2024 – Culinary Issue), a farm tour at Kaua’i Farmacy, personal training with an Anatomy “Body Architect,” guided hiking or surfing excursions, private restorative pilates or yoga classes, and personalized treatments at the award-winning Bamford Wellness Spa.

The Bamford Wellness Spa is the epicenter of revitalization, offering organic, sustainable, and locally-sourced products for an exceptional guest experience. The 18,000 square foot of dedicated wellness space includes some of the most advanced touchless therapies in the world for ultimate renewal, including a zero-gravity ocean float room (known to improve sleep, focus, anxiety, and recovery time), hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a Somadome meditation pod, and both infrared and steam saunas.

Many spa services are designed around native plants and crops sustainably harvested and grown by local farmers. The Ali’i Honey Steam Wrap spotlights medicinal honey from the Kaua’i Farmacy to reduce stress and inflammation in the body. These local honeybees pollinate some of the rarest flowers on earth, leading to honey divinely infused with the island’s ancient medicine.

Other highlights of my wellness-focused stay included daily fitness classes at Anatomy, the 10,000-square-foot gym. Offering a proprietary program designed by leading sports scientists and fitness experts, each class focuses on a dynamic range of movement that focuses on strength conditioning, muscle regeneration, and recovery. The hotel also has a “Jungle Gym“ by the private beach, crafted entirely from invasive Albizia wood, for those who prefer to work outdoors.

No matter your desires, the Wellness program at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay will ensure an unforgettable experience that serves the body, mind, and spirit.

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To learn more and book your stay, head to 1Hotels.com and follow along on Instagram @1hotel.hanaleibay for inspiration for your next visit to Kaua’i.