Sustainable Wellness Retreat 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Elevates The Hotel Scene On Kaua’i

Last time I sat at this outdoor bar, 15 years ago, to be exact, I marveled at the view, as anyone would. In the near distance, Hanalei Bay glistens in panoramic splendor, and further out in one’s field of vision, the green cliffs of the North Shore mysteriously beckon. At the time, the hotel here was the St. Regis Princeville Resort, but everything has changed now that 1 Hotel has arrived. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is a veritable game-changer, elevating what we have come to know as Kaua’i luxury, encompassing expansive opportunities for wellbeing.

1 Hotel was founded in 2015 by Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht as a “mission-driven” luxury hotel brand. And I can attest that the company’s mission is not just marketing-speak where both environmental impact and guest wellness are concerned. The resort — the brand’s first in its otherwise urban hotel portfolio — offers Kaua’i’s deepest dive into one’s own wellness journey, starting with its immersive. soul-bending location and (not) ending with its destination Bamford Spa, where you can experience Hawaiian botanicals in the context of the most cutting-edge technology available for stress reduction and holistic wellness, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cryotherapy, sensory deprivation floating, and infrared sauna.

While the spa is a world unto itself, it’s fully integrated into the hotel, starting with the chill vibe. Rooms look out onto glorious Hanalei Bay, and huge windows provide not only dreamy views but also breezes throughout the day that allow you to keep an open channel with the ocean and its hypnotic soundtrack 24/7, if you like. During the renovation, 144.6 tons of materials were reclaimed and upcycled into furniture and artwork that was donated to the community. A 7,400-gallon rainwater system that captures the island’s abundant rainfall allows the property to reduce water consumption for outdoor irrigation by 97%, saving 3.5 million gallons per year.

You need not notice any of this if you’re just there to sink into decadent luxury. But it’s good to know that the hotel you’ve chosen for your Kaua’i adventure is so forward-thinking. Sternlicht has said that “nature is the brand’s CEO,” and the style of design at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is known as “biophilic,” meaning that it brings structures more in harmony with their natural environments. Hawai’i-based G70 and San Francisco-based Nicole Hollis collaborated on this design ethos, which is beachy, tropical and plushly comfortable. Each room has handwoven floors made from local black basalt and lava rock showers (some also have deep soaking tubs), and traditional punai daybeds are the perfect vantage point for taking in the view.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is also on track to become LEED-certified in 2024, which means it’s optimized for energy efficiency and powered by green systems including LED lighting, increased insulation, HVAC systems with energy recovery, and advanced monitoring. This saves up to 20% on energy bills per year. It’s also 100% Certified Carbon Neutral, which means the property removes as many carbon emissions (greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere as it releases, which it achieves through the minimization of emissions as much as possible and offsetting all emissions through Renewable Energy Certificates and carbon-offset projects.

Restaurants follow suit. 1 Kitchen focuses on a Hawaiian ingredient-driven menu, while Welina Terrace offers a wide range of sushi options, and both restaurants, along with morning cafe Neighbors and pool restaurant The Sandbox have a zero-waste system to prevent food waste from going to the landfill.

It’s rare to find a hotel that holds luxury front and center in the context of genuine work around and advancements in sustainability. But 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is such a place, and there’s no more perfect spot for it than the island of Kaua’i, which leads the Hawaiian Islands in progress toward the Hawai’i 2050 Sustainability Plan.

Read more about this innovative brand, and reserve your room at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay here.