Perched on a bluff overlooking Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s North Shore, the Princeville Resort, built in the 1980s, was once the pinnacle of Hawaiian luxury. But over the years, as the property changed hands, it began to show its age. That changed in 2018, when Starwood Capital Group purchased the resort and reimagined it through the lens of its eco-luxury brand, 1 Hotels. After a $300 million transformation—more reinvention than renovation—the resort reopened.
The result is 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay—a breathtakingly modern retreat. Eleven stories tall, the property’s clean lines and open-air layout direct your gaze to the stunning natural surroundings—lush green mountains and sweeping bay views. Suites range from one to two bedrooms with either bay-facing balconies or serene mountain vistas. Interiors are clad in natural wood and stone, dressed in organic cottons and linens in a calming, earthy palette.
The best vacations offer something elusive: Flow.
Among the most impressive features of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is its daily calendar of wellness and cultural programming, much of it complimentary. From sunrise to sunset you can enjoy yoga classes, strength circuits and mobility sessions using innovative tools like inflatable circular Waffs (a first for me!). The spartan, sprawling, sleek gym has all the machines, gizmos and gadgets of a big-city, state-of-the-art facility.
For cultural enrichment, there are classes such as lei-making and bracelet-weaving. I signed up for a fee-based watercolor “paint and sip” class—wine included—and was delighted at what I created. Truth be told, I never could have done it without guidance from the fabulous, patient instructor.
Beyond the resort, adventure awaits. The concierge can book customized excursions across the island—think waterfall hikes, catamaran tours along the Napali Coast or helicopter rides over Waimea Canyon (aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). The nearby Robert Trent Jones-designed Princeville Makai Golf Club has six oceanfront holes for a round that maximizes views and playability. Tee off near the golden hour for an unforgettable track.
Dining is another highlight. At 1 Kitchen, the resort’s flagship restaurant, we ordered the catch of the day: kanpachi. The filet—nearly a foot long—was perfectly grilled, topped with herbaceous chimichurri and jewel-toned Japanese sweet potatoes. It easily could have fed four.
Another night we dined at Welina Terrace, an open-air sushi lounge with an expansive, chic bar. Sitting at our low-slung patio table at sunset and sipping tropical cocktails—like the standout old-fashioned infused with banana and apple—was an experience.
The spa is highlighted by cutting-edge wellness. My husband and I tried the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, where we breathed concentrated oxygen in a pressurized environment—a treatment said to boost cellular repair and immunity. I was a bit worried about feeling claustrophobic inside the mini-jet-like capsule, but the experience, replete with subtle pastel lighting, was soothing.
There’s also a massive float tank filled with 700 pounds of Epsom salts and magnesium for full-body relaxation and muscle recovery. During my 80-minute massage, I experienced the benefits of customizable heated massage tables that contour to the body and accommodate specific needs—including pregnancy and postpartum comfort.
Sustainability isn’t just a tagline here—it’s embedded in every aspect of the resort. The hotel is carbon neutral, ocean-friendly, zero waste and LEED-certified. Rainwater is collected and reused. In-room filtered water taps were an amenity I especially appreciated.
Just a short drive from campus, the laid-back town of Hanalei makes for an easy, fun outing. While shopping is limited to mostly casual surf shops, there are a few great spots to eat—and strolling along the beach, with its stunning bayfront homes, is a simple pleasure in itself.
The best vacations offer something elusive: flow. It’s that state of being where time dissolves, your mind quiets and you’re fully immersed in the present. The result is a reset—exactly what Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort delivers.
Opened in 2023 on the Big Island’s Kona Coast, the resort spans 81 oceanfront acres of pure natural splendor. A crescent-shaped swimmable beach anchors the property, framed by black lava rock and golden grasses.
The site’s story adds to its depth. In 1801, lava from the Hualālai volcano blanketed this coastline. More than 160 years later, the original Kona Village Resort opened here in 1965—an off-grid, Polynesian-inspired retreat that attracted loyal guests for decades, including Steve Jobs. No TVs. No distractions. Just natural beauty—and time. A 2011 tsunami destroyed much of the property, and for over a decade the land lay dormant.
Now, thanks to a thoughtful partnership between Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson, the resort has been reborn. It now features 150 stand-alone bungalows—or hale—spread across the property, linked by white decomposed granite pathways. Thatched-style roofs made from recycled plastic look remarkably like straw. Bikes and golf carts are the preferred modes of transport.
Sustainability is at the heart of this rebirth. The resort runs entirely on solar power and uses reverse osmosis to recycle water for nonpotable uses.
Accommodations include one- and two-bedroom hale (rooms), some with oceanfront patios and private outdoor showers. For families and groups, there are four-bedroom bungalows with full kitchens and private pools. On the northern end of the resort, bungalows sit beside black sand beaches. On the southern end, the sand—washed in by the tsunami—is golden.
Design throughout the resort is sophisticated yet understated—contemporary Hawaiian without cliché. Natural tones and organic textures are the cornerstones. Privacy is built in. Our hale felt like our own secluded haven; whether we were out reading on the lanai or rinsing off in the outdoor shower, we rarely saw another soul.
Dining is relaxed but refined. Two open-air restaurants serve Pacific Rim cuisine highlighting local ingredients. But our favorite food experience was at the charming Shipwreck Bar—crafted from the schooner once owned by the resort’s founder. Damaged in a storm, the boat was transformed into a bar. It was our go-to for nibbles of fresh sashimi and sunset cocktails.
Wellness and recreation options abound. There’s a glass-walled gym, tennis and pickleball courts, and complimentary activities like sunrise outrigger canoe paddles. Cultural classes in hula, lei-making, ukulele and Hawaiian language are offered daily. Yoga, cooking classes and pickleball clinics are available for a fee.
And then there’s the spa—perhaps the most visually stunning I’ve ever experienced. Built with warm woods and dark stone, it sits amid lava fields and sunlit grasses. The indoor-outdoor design invites nature in at every turn. I found myself visiting daily just to steam, sauna and relax in such beautiful, unique environs.
Off property, the concierge can arrange outings to the Kilauea volcano in the south, waterfalls in the north or night swims with manta rays—an otherworldly experience several guests we spoke with raved about. Floating on the ocean under the stars and watching these graceful creatures glide below captures the essence of Hawaii: magical, primal, unforgettable. Much like the Rosewood Kona Village itself.
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Big waves, big vision.