1 Hotel Hanalei Bay | Princeville, Kauai | Hawaii, USA
A transformative resort where biophilic design, Hawaiian culture, and one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes become inseparable.
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● One of the most remarkable hotel transformations of recent years, turning an intrusive landmark into architecture that quietly belongs to its surroundings.
● Beautifully crafted interiors using reclaimed timber, lava stone, natural fibres, and native materials that celebrate Hawaiian craftsmanship.
● A holistic vision where sustainability, wellness, architecture, and landscape are woven into every aspect of the guest experience.
A Resort Reconnected to the Land
Perched above the emerald crescent of Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s lush North Shore, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay represents far more than a luxury resort. It is an architectural reinvention that fundamentally changes the relationship between building and landscape. Where the former St. Regis once stood as a bright white landmark overlooking the coastline, the redesigned hotel now blends almost effortlessly into the surrounding hillsides. Earth-toned façades, planted rooftops, native vegetation, and carefully chosen materials soften the architecture until the building becomes part of the island rather than competing with it. It is a rare example of redevelopment that feels less like renovation and more like restoration.
Architecture That Lets Nature Lead
Designed by G70 in collaboration with NICOLEHOLLIS, the architecture follows a simple principle: nature should remain the protagonist. Guests arrive through an open-air entrance where tropical planting, lava stone walls, reclaimed teak, woven abaca ceilings, and natural ventilation immediately establish a connection with the island. Throughout the resort, locally sourced materials create interiors that feel grounded in place rather than imported from an international luxury template. Large overhanging roofs collect rainwater, native planting softens the building’s edges, and expansive glazing constantly reconnects guests with Hanalei Bay, Mount Makana, and the dramatic cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast beyond. Rather than framing architecture as the destination, the hotel quietly frames one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes.
Rooms Designed Around the View
The guestrooms continue this philosophy of restraint. Handwoven basalt-inspired doors, reclaimed teak, woven natural fibres, warm stone, muted textiles, and soft organic colours create interiors that feel calm and tactile. Floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, allowing the changing light, ocean, mountains, and tropical vegetation to become part of every room. Luxury here isn’t created through excess, but through space, craftsmanship, and an uninterrupted connection to nature.
Wellness as a Way of Living
Wellbeing extends far beyond the spa. The award-winning Bamford Wellness Spa combines Hawaiian healing traditions with contemporary therapies, offering treatments inspired by native botanicals alongside cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared saunas, flotation experiences, meditation, and restorative bodywork. The resort’s Within Wellbeing programmes take this philosophy even further through immersive four- and seven-night journeys focused on longevity, movement, nutrition, mindfulness, and personal renewal. Even outside the formal wellness spaces, the architecture encourages slower living. Walking paths, layered pool terraces, shaded gardens, and open-air lounges naturally guide guests toward light, fresh air, and the rhythms of the island itself.
Luxury with Purpose
Sustainability is embedded throughout the property rather than treated as an afterthought. Nearly 150 tons of furniture and building materials from the original resort were salvaged and repurposed during construction. Organic produce is grown on site, seafood is responsibly sourced, partnerships support local farmers and artisans, and Hawaiian businesses feature prominently throughout the hotel—from boutique products to coffee, wellness, and cultural experiences. Every decision reinforces the idea that luxury should enhance its surroundings rather than consume them.
Why it Works
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay sets a new benchmark for environmentally conscious luxury. By transforming an iconic but visually dominant resort into an architecture that disappears into Kauai’s extraordinary landscape, it demonstrates how thoughtful design can restore rather than impose. Warm, tactile, deeply connected to Hawaiian culture, and guided by an authentic commitment to sustainability, it is one of the finest examples of contemporary resort design anywhere in the world.
