Rest & Rejuvenation at 
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

There are few places more beautiful than Kauai. I made this realization on my first trip to this emerald green island aptly named The Garden Isle for the lush tropical foliage growing extravagantly all over the island. Kauai’s awe-inspiring landscape of mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and canyons surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean make Kauai one of the most stunning places I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. 

We’ve been lucky enough to visit the other Hawaiian islands, and yes, they are all beautiful and amazing, but Kauai is different from her island sisters. Kauai is the oldest of all the Hawaiian islands at approximately 5 million years old compared to the Big Island Hawaii, the youngest at about 600,000 years old. There is a rich cultural history on the island and an unspoken understanding of kuleana (responsibility) for preserving the land and respecting the local traditions and culture. There is even a vow called The Aloha Pledge (alohapledge.com) that visitors can read and follow to ensure that care is taken to respect the beautiful island of Kauai.

The pace is slower on Kauai and even visitors and tourists seem to have adjusted their pace to match the island’s vibe. At least that’s the way it was for me. I stepped off the plane, and as we drove to Princeville along the beaches and through the canopy of greenery, I felt a calm settle over me. 

We made the 45-minute drive from Lihue Airport to Princeville, an exclusive enclave on the North Shore of Kauai. We arrived at our final destination, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, where we would spend four blissful days relaxing and where I could concentrate on personal wellness. A 5-star luxury hotel, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay sits on the edge of the water on the Napali Coast where the panoramic views are truly beyond words. The hotel underwent a fairly recent renovation and the results are stunning with sustainability and magnificent views at the forefront of the design. Rather than tearing down the existing building and rebuilding from scratch, the entire interior was gutted and designed to take advantage of the premium location affording the spectacular views without wasting the structure of a perfectly good building. The tiered garden with the soothing waterfalls in the open-air lobby, the swimming pools, and shared spaces like the fitness rooms, restaurants, and bars showcase the mountain and ocean views emanating the overall feeling of Zen.

In January 2024, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay launched the resort’s Within Wellbeing concept where guests are offered a lavish wellness program in this serene setting. For guests who want to focus on self-care and wellness, they can opt to stay as a Within Wellbeing guest which begins with an initial phone or video consultation in which wellness goals and options are discussed. A personalized itinerary is created which can include a selection of wellness programs and services such as Hawaiian plant medicine, holistic wellness, and a variety of other specialized treatments, activities, and classes. 

During my stay at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, I wanted to focus on both rest and rejuvenation. I was looking forward to releasing stress and “working” on my physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. Right away, the stress vanished as soon as we arrived at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, so it was time to focus on rejuvenation. 

Immediately after arrival, I checked in to my Yin + Sound class. This involves meditation and the alignment of the seven chakras to the sound of crystal singing bowls. This class was a great place to start. My monkey mind was difficult to quiet after the day’s travels, but the soothing sound of the bowls reverberated through my body from head to toe and I could feel my root chakra grounding. I felt relaxed, the gratitude flowing through me. 

On my way back to the suite, I stopped by the lobby to check out the 6-foot-tall blackboard filled with the day’s activities hosted by the hotel. There are hikes, yoga classes, hula, crystal healing, mixology, and other cultural, holistic, and outdoor activities, most of them complementary to all hotel guests. I made a mental note to register for any classes and activities of interest.

Back at the suite, I had a chance to truly appreciate this beautiful space. The expansive ocean view suite had stunning views, of course. Views of the beach and the mountains beyond can be enjoyed from the spacious sitting room, from the floor-to-ceiling window-facing bed, from the cabana beds on the private patio, and even from the shower and the black-lava soaking tub in the bathroom. The tasteful decor and comfortable layout and furnishings are pure luxury. Recyclable water bottles and the in-room water-filling station show the hotel’s commitment to sustainability.  

For dinner we decided to eat at Welina Terrace, the hotel’s bar and restaurant. The views from the terrace were amazing. Make sure to make reservations early if you want a table with a good view of the sunset. There is a selection of interesting hand crafted cocktails as well as a menu of appetizing Japanese-inspired light bites. 

The following day, we woke up early to work out in the hotel’s state-of-the-art gym. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has partnered with Anatomy, a wellness program created by globally recognized fitness experts, and the gym is impressive. There are high-end cardio machines and weight equipment as well as trainers available to answer questions and to help with workouts. This is hands-down the best gym we’ve ever come across in our travels. We enjoyed working out at the gym so much that we worked out every day during our stay.   

Breakfast each day was at the hotel’s signature restaurant, 1 Kitchen. The breakfast buffet was our favorite meal of the day. Choose from Spam fried rice (with a made-to-order egg over easy on top– yum!), Portuguese chorizo, Ube pancakes, fresh tropical fruit, endless pastries and the typical scrambled eggs and bacon, and so much more. You could have a different breakfast every day. And the view from the restaurant is incredible and the perfect way to start every day. 

Next, we had a morning hike scheduled with Troy Damery, a knowledgeable trail guide. Troy took us on a mile-and-a-half long hike on a trail that led us to Kilauea Bay overlooking Rock Quarry Beach. The hike was flat and easy and took us through a scenic route past green fields, salt-water lakes, and a multi-million dollar compound to reach the end of the trail where we watched waves crashing almost at our feet. Troy was an excellent guide and a self-proclaimed database of factoids; we learned much about the wild chickens, the nēnē (geese), and the plants, flowers, and trees along the trail. I highly recommend this activity. Troy can customize the hike depending on skill level and interests.

I returned from the hike ready for a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy session at the Integrated Precision Wellbeing Center – another wellness partner of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves sitting in a space-capsule-like chamber and putting oxygen tubes in the nostrils to breathe in 100% pure oxygen. This therapy is said to lessen symptoms of migraine headaches, arthritis, depression, and several other ailments.

The following day I had an appointment to experience the flotation chamber at Bamford Wellness Spa. The flotation chamber is a sensory deprivation chamber in which there is no light and sound, so you are in complete silence and darkness, floating weightless in a salt and water solution. This is a place for deep meditation. I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped in the flotation chamber and opted to leave the door open a crack. It is really quite disconcerting, but I would like to work my way to deep meditation in complete silence and darkness. I would do this again.  

After the flotation chamber, it was time for an Intuitive Herbal Healing Ritual at Bamford Wellness Spa. This was a 90-minute massage therapy session with Tarra. The ritual includes powerful Hawaiian herbs and serums infused into macadamia nut oil which soothe and encourage circulation and detoxification. Honestly, this is the best massage I’ve ever experienced; Tarra’s technique is flawless and her energy is magical. This experience should not be missed.

The next morning I was scheduled for an IV treatment. Though I’ve had vitamin shots in the past, I had never experienced an IV treatment, and honestly, I was a little squeamish about it. An experienced nurse set up the IV and I sat for 30 minutes reading my book. The infusion consists of electrolytes, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and other healthy nutrients, and can be customized to enhance mood, balance hormones and more. It is also said to treat hangovers for which it is a popular antidote. 

After my IV infusion I was to meet Ariana, the yoga instructor. I had shared with Ariana my level of yoga experience and she put together a quick set of movements perfect for my physical abilities. We practiced yoga on a terrace overlooking the sea and it was a beautiful and relaxing experience. Besides the physical release of stretching and challenging my body, Ariana was also able to enlighten me spiritually. Her openness was very inspiring and I left the session feeling at peace in mind and body. 

The rest of the day was spent relaxing in a cabana at the beach. There are lots of chaises and umbrellas lined up along the shore, but a beach cabana is a glorious treat! A bottle of cold rosé and a generous platter of fresh fruit comes with the reservation. We also ordered a pepperoni flatbread and the North Shore flatbread (shrimp, arugula, parm, and lemon zest) to go with the wine. We spent our time alternating between swimming in the ocean and napping and reading in the cabana. 

My hubby was able to snorkel just off the beach and said that the snorkeling was amazing – he saw more than he expected so close to the hotel. It was a beautiful mix of rocks and coral below and he saw turtles and puffer fish, and a colorful variety of other fishes. Definitely a highlight! It was an excellent day! 

Our stay at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has been one of the most relaxing, yet productive trips we’ve ever taken. It was both relaxing and yet, I felt I had really made the time to work on myself. There were so many wellness programs to choose from and a well-trained and knowledgeable support staff. We were motivated to work out and explore several wellness treatments and therapies without ever having to leave the property.  If you want to focus on your well-being in a beautiful setting, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is ideal for taking the utmost care of you.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
5520 Ka Haku Rd, Princeville, HI 96722
1hotels.com/hanalei-bay