"The most extraordinary resort in Hawaii — and the most compelling argument that sustainable luxury and genuine beauty are not in conflict."
The former St. Regis Princeville was already one of the great hotel addresses in the Pacific — a cliffside perch above Hanalei Bay with views of the Na Pali Coast that no amount of money could replicate anywhere else on earth. When 1 Hotels acquired the property and committed $300 million to its transformation, the question was whether the new vision could honour what made the original so special. The answer, delivered in reclaimed wood and living walls of native Hawaiian plants, is an emphatic yes.
The redesign strips away the formal grandeur of the St. Regis era and replaces it with something more rooted and more honest — a resort that feels genuinely of its place rather than imposed upon it. The lobby opens directly to the trade winds and the bay beyond. The corridors are lined with native ferns and volcanic stone. The rooms are dressed in organic linens and reclaimed timber, with lanais that frame the Hanalei Bay panorama like a living painting. It is barefoot luxury in its most refined form.
"The pool terrace at dusk — fire features glowing, the Na Pali Coast dissolving into the horizon. There is nowhere on earth quite like this."
Julia Ross · TastesOf
The pool terrace is the heart of the resort — and one of the great pool experiences in the world. The multi-level infinity design cascades toward the bay, framed by towering coconut palms and dense tropical plantings. Fire features built around the private cabanas ignite at dusk, casting a warm glow across the water as the sky turns amber over the Na Pali. The adults-only pool offers a quieter counterpoint. Poolside service brings fresh lilikoi juice, Hawaiian poke, and cocktails built from Kauai-grown spirits. It is the kind of afternoon that makes you reconsider every other holiday you have ever taken.
At a Glance
What Not to Miss
The Pool Terrace
The resort's centrepiece — a spectacular multi-level infinity pool terrace framed by towering coconut palms, lush native Hawaiian landscaping, and unobstructed views across Hanalei Bay to the Na Pali Coast. The $300 million renovation transformed the original St. Regis pool into something far more extraordinary: fire features built around the private cabanas, a dedicated adults-only pool, and poolside service delivering fresh local juices, Hawaiian poke, and craft cocktails made with Kauai-grown ingredients. At golden hour, when the sky turns copper over the bay, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Hanalei Bay & Beach Access
The resort sits on the cliffs above one of Hawaii's most celebrated bays — a two-mile crescent of sand backed by the dramatic green peaks of the Na Pali Coast. The hotel provides direct beach access and complimentary water sports equipment. Sunrise paddleboarding on Hanalei Bay, with the mountains emerging from the morning mist, is the defining Kauai experience.
Bambuze & The Bar
The resort's signature restaurant celebrates the extraordinary produce of Kauai's North Shore — farm-to-table in the most literal sense, with ingredients sourced from the hotel's own gardens and local Hawaiian farms. The menu changes with the season; the Hawaiian kampachi crudo and the Kauai shrimp are constants. The bar programme is built around local spirits and fresh tropical fruit — the lilikoi margarita is the drink of the North Shore.
Bamford Wellness Spa
A full-service spa in partnership with Bamford — the British wellness brand known for its organic, nature-led approach to treatments. The spa uses locally sourced Hawaiian botanicals and volcanic clay in its signature treatments. The outdoor treatment pavilions, open to the trade winds with views of the bay, are among the finest spa settings in the Pacific.
Sustainable Design
The $300 million renovation was guided by 1 Hotels' commitment to sustainability — reclaimed wood, living walls of native Hawaiian plants, and materials sourced from within 500 miles wherever possible. The result is a resort that feels genuinely rooted in its landscape rather than imposed upon it. The design is rustic and refined in equal measure — the finest expression of the 1 Hotels aesthetic anywhere in the world.
The Experience
The Verdict
The finest resort in Hawaii — and the most beautiful argument for sustainable luxury anywhere in the world.
The $300 million transformation has produced something genuinely rare: a resort that improves upon what came before. The St. Regis was magnificent. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is transcendent. Book the cliffside suite, claim a cabana on the pool terrace, and stay as long as the island will allow.
Book Your Stay
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