Kauai’s Most Expensive Hotel Blends Eco-Luxury & Wellness (but is it worth the sticker shock?)
If you’re looking for luxury on Kauai and money is no object, this could be your dream resort. But is this 5-star eco-resort really worth it?
Kauai’s north shore has always been one of my favorite places in Hawaii.
It’s lush, quiet, and packed with natural beauty — the kind of island oasis where you go to escape, reset, and leave your cell phone in a bedside drawer.
So when 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opened after years of anticipation and a $300 million renovation of the old St. Regis Princeville, I knew my husband Dave and I had to check it out.
Rave online reviews promised this was no ordinary hotel.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice. All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you.
It’s the flagship property for the eco-focused 1 Hotel brand, with nightly rates starting well north of $1000.
That price tag alone means most travelers will think hard before booking (we certainly did!).
We live on Oahu and take frequent weekend trips to Kauai. So recently, we decided to check out 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay and see what all the buzz was about.
Here’s my honest review of our stay and whether we felt it was worth the splurge.
Location & Getting Here
From Kauai’s Lihue Airport (LIH), the hotel is a 30-mile drive, which will take you a little under an hour.
Kauai is one of those islands where you’ll definitely want to have a rental car, and that’s especially true if you stay at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. The hotel is set in a serene, but somewhat remote location.
So, unless you plan to book organized day trips every day, be sure to rent a car.
Discount Hawaii Car Rental
For rental cars in Hawaii, go to the local experts. They’ll find you the best rate among all the major companies with no booking fees. And their customer support is top-notch.
First Impressions
Perched on a hillside above Hanalei Bay in Princeville, the hotel delivers an instant wow factor upon arrival.
The open-air lobby is filled with natural elements — reclaimed wood, stone, and live plants everywhere you look.
From the upper floors, you get sweeping views of the bay, the Garden Isle’s jagged green peaks, and even the neighboring islands on a clear day.
The staff members welcomed us warmly, offering chilled tea and a reusable water bottle (no plastic water bottles here, part of the hotel’s commitment to sustainability).
It’s a standout feature you’ll notice right away — the hotel leans heavily into eco-conscious details, from water consumption monitoring to menus built around local ingredients.
Who It’s Best For
This isn’t a casual crash pad. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is best for:
- Couples looking for romance and transformative wellness experiences (just avoid popular school holidays)
- Travelers seeking a high-end, world-class spa and dining scene
- Families who can afford a 5-star resort and luxury programming for kids
If you’re looking for nightlife or a budget-friendly stay, this isn’t it.
Tip: Don’t worry, Kauai has plenty of great, affordable hotels!
Read More: 5 Awesome & Affordable Kauai Hotels that Won’t Break the Bank
Rooms & Design
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has 252 guest rooms and 51 suites, each designed with the brand’s signature eco-luxury look. Think organic cotton linens, stone and wood accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
We booked an Ocean View Lounge King, and our room was spacious, stylish, and had a great view of Hanalei Bay.
Inside, there were plenty of thoughtful touches — a fruit basket, yoga mats, snacks from local farmers, and a filtered water tap with refillable bottles.
The bathroom came stocked with Bamford bath products, which smelled like a blend of herbs from a hotel’s organic on-site garden. It felt earthy yet indulgent, a real wellness sanctuary.
Like most Hawaii resorts, there is also an annoying resort fee of $59 a night on top of the hefty room rate.
This fee includes the lobby farmstand with fresh seasonal fruit, bicycle rentals, the Audi Experience: e-tron drive program, reef-safe sunscreen, preferred tee times at Princeville Makai Golf Club, and fitness and wellness experiences.
Pools & Beach
The pool scene here is something else. For the grown-ups, there’s a cliffside adults-only infinity pool with stellar views.
There’s also a large, family-friendly pool with waterfalls and shallow ledges, and hot tubs tucked into corners for soaking.
The beach area below the hotel has soft, warm sand but is dense with coral. It’s more of a swimmable beach for snorkeling than floating. We spotted sea turtles without even trying.
It’s a terrific beach, just be aware that it’s not the same as the wide sandy stretches you’ll find in Poipu.
Spa & Wellness
The Bamford Wellness Spa is a destination in itself. It has 18 treatment rooms, plus unique offerings like an ocean float room, infrared sauna, and meditation pods. The focus is on transformative wellness experiences rather than just the typical massage.
With the cost of the room for the weekend, the Spa was a bit beyond our budget, but I have no doubt it’s fabulous.
Food & Drink
Food at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is a big deal, and much of it comes from local Kauai farmers.
1 Kitchen is the main restaurant, serving a breakfast buffet with farm-to-table cuisine that is both beautiful and delicious.
Welina Terrace is the star of the show. Time it for sunset, order sushi rolls or wagyu tataki, and enjoy live music while gazing at Mount Makana. The cocktail menu here is creative, and this was one of our favorite spots during our stay.
The juice bar opens early, which is perfect if you’re still on mainland time. Sandbox keeps the pool crowd happy with pizzas, poke, and ahi nachos. And Neighbors Café serves açai bowls, grab-and-go meals, and coffee.
Activities & Extras
The hotel has a packed Daylife calendar, including lei making, ohana nature walks, ukulele lessons, and surf classes.
There’s also Seedlings, the kids’ program, so families will find plenty of activities for the keiki (kiddos). If you’re a golfer, you’ll love being next to the Princeville Makai Golf Course; it’s one of Kauai’s top courses.
What To Do Nearby
Even though it’s tempting to never leave the beautiful property, there’s so much to see and do on Kauai!
Read More: Bucket List Kauai: 40 Unforgettable Things to See, Do, and Eat! 🌈🌺🍧
Hanalei town is about 15 minutes down the road. There, you’ll find casual dining, food trucks, shopping, and the iconic Hanalei Bay Pier (stretching out from the sands of one of the most beautiful beaches on Kauai).
Read More: These 7 Kauai Beaches are Simply Too Gorgeous to Ignore
Anini Beach is another great Princeville area beach, perfect for a calm swim. And, of course, a trip south to Poipu Beach to see the turtles and the famous Spouting Horn blowhole is a fun day trip.
Read More: The Top 5 Fun Things to Do on Kauai (#1 is a must!)
If you’re up for an adventure, boat tours or helicopter rides give you the best look at the Nā Pali Coast (this is especially a must-do during the whale season months of December to March).
So is 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Worth It?
Let’s talk numbers. Starting at well over $1000 per night, this is one of the most expensive luxury resorts in Hawaii.
And while the hotel does a lot right — gorgeous design, a world-class spa, strong ties to Hawaiian culture, and standout features like eco-focused details — it’s not for everyone.
Compared to other Kauai luxury options like the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, Timbers Kauai, or the Koloa Landing Resort at Po’ipu (where you can get a 3-bedroom villa for about the same price), this one sets itself apart with sustainability and wellness.
But only you can decide if the transformative wellness experiences justify the steep cost. For a romantic honeymoon or a bucket-list splurge, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is hard to beat.
But for most travelers, it may be better to enjoy dinner at Welina Terrace and stay elsewhere. We absolutely enjoyed our stay.
But, for us, it was probably a one-time splurge.
If you’re all about wellness, sustainability, and next-level luxury, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay could be your dream Kauai hotel. If not, you can still enjoy the north shore’s magic without the hefty price tag.
