🌟 Overview of the ONE Hotel Hanalei Bay

Nestled on Kauai’s breathtaking North Shore, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the ultimate blend of eco-luxury, wellness, and island life. From its boho-chic rooms with panoramic ocean views to its farm-to-table dining this resort promises the perfect dreamy-beach escape in Hawaii.

But does it live up to the hype—and the price tag?

In this review, I’ll take you with me on my stay at the One Hotel Hanalei Bay, sharing everything from the luxe amenities to the vibes and views, and whether it’s worth the splurge for your Kauai getaway.

• Location: Princeville, Kauai. This is located on the North Shore of Kauai
• Category: Luxury Beach Resort
• Price Range: Luxury – Prices starting around $1,200/night
• Best For: Couples, girls trips, luxury escapes, beach trips
• Rating: ★★★★★ (5 of 5)

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✨ First Impressions

The One Hotel Hanalei Bay blew my mind from start to finish. This hotel was recommended to us by friends who lives in Hawaii and they said it was an absolute “must-do” and they were 100%  correct. When we arrived we were immediately greeted by the valet who promptly took our bags, offered us welcome leis, and guided us to the lobby check-in. The stunning open-air lobby is breathtaking. The architecture and greenery were the perfect welcome to our vacation. The check-in process was a first for me. There was no long line, with one check-in counter. Instead, we were taken to a comfortable seating area with couches where the receptionist offered us welcome drinks and got us checked in. We were also offered an upgraded room, and she even took us to tour the room to ensure it was where we wanted to stay. After that, we were guided through the hotel and all of its facilities. Overall, 10/10 for first impressions!

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📍Location

• Distance from airport: 29 miles to the airport, about a 50-minute drive.
• Walkability: The resort is situated in a more residential area on a cliff overlooking Hanalei Bay. There is not much to walk to in this area. For that reason, if you are looking to explore the North Shore or any other parts of Kauai, a car is recommended.
• Overall location thoughts: I personally loved the North Shore and felt that it had the most authentic “Kauai” feel and experience. The area is more remote and definitely a bit further from some of the other attractions, so if you are looking to explore the island and want a more centrally located hotel, check out the Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort. I personally came for the stunning views of Hanalei Bay and they did not disappoint. The resort has everything you need, so you won’t need to leave or walk to other areas during your stay. One BIG plus was that the resort has its own beach area with soft sand, clear water, and plenty of shade as well as complimentary beach chairs. This was huge for us as the public access area at Hanalei Bay were quite crowded and felt dirty in some areas.

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🗝️ Our Room

• Room Type: ADA friendly Ocean View Room on the Top Floor (Upgrade was given to us upon arrival)
• Design: Tropical bohemian beach vibes meet luxury 
• Amenities: Ocean view, sliding windows with screens, yoga matt, filtered water station
• Comfort Level: The bathroom was very spacious and the beds were comfortable. Perfect place to relax after a day at the beach.
• Views: Stunning ocean view overlooking Hanalie Bay. Wonderful sunsets as well!
• Overall Impression: We loved our room here, the vibes were perfect for a luxury beach escape. The little added amenities like the refillable water station and the yoga matt for morning stretches were great. Overall, the view really made the room special. We loved being able to watch the sunset at night as well as open our windows and listen to the sound of the waves. This was for sure, one of my favorite room views of all time!

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🍹 Dining & Drinks

• On-Site Restaurants:
  • Crooked Surf –  Classic beach bites with a Hawaiin flare. We got poke bowls and chicken bowls and both were tasty. 
  • Day Break – Breakfast buffet and sit down breakfast, lunch and dinner options available.
  • First light – Coffee and Juice bar with small breakfast bites.
• Breakfast: Not included in our room rate. The breakfast buffet here was around $50/person and included a full breakfast spread including standard eggs/bacon/etc. Also a freshly served omelet station and a pastry bar. Overall, I have had better breakfast buffets with a larger selection of options for that steep of price. However, you can’t beat waking up and having your breakfast looking over the views of Hanalei Bay, so I would recommend getting breakfast here for sure!
• Room Service: We did order room service one night, and it was prompt service and tasty options as well.

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🌊 Amenities & Experiences

• Pools & Spas:
  • Adults-Only Infinity Pool: My FAVORITE part of this hotel was hands down the adults-only infinity pool that overlooks Hanalei Bay. The sunsets and views were gorgeous and the infinity pool literally makes you feel like you are swimming above the mountains. There were limited day beds, but there was never a crowd and we always had seating open when we arrived. There was also a Jacuzzi to help you warm up!
  • Main lagoon pool: This pool was very large and perfect for families. There were plenty of different seating options to help you have a relaxing pool day.
  • Beach: Great white sand beach, perfect for swimming. You could also stop by the beach shack to grab chairs and sit along the beach. You could also rent snorkels and fins for an additional fee. The water was crystal clear when we went and shallow enough to walk in. The waves stayed further out so it was not rough at all for swimming.
• Amenities: 
  • Game room with ping pong table, foosball table, and more
  • Spa
  • Gift shop

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📸 Photo-Worthy Moments: ONE Hotel Hanalie Bay

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🌅 The Overall Experience

Overall, we had a 10/10 experience at One Hanalei Bay. From the welcoming check-in process to the luxury amenities and the breathtaking views, this was a splurge-worthy trip that we will never forget. Everything here felt so luxurious and really elevated our beach vacation. The thoughtful details throughout the hotel really shined and made our experience so memorable. While the price was a definite splurge, I would recommend at least 1 or 2 nights here if you are coming to Kauai and want to really relax, unwind, and feel like royalty. The $1,200 price tag is still super steep in my opinion, and I feel like there could still be some improvements to service, food quality, etc to justify the hefty prices, but that did not deter from our experience at all.

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⭐ Final Rating: ONE Hotel Hanalei Bay

• Overall Experience: ★★★★★
• Room Comfort & Design: ★★★★★
• Dining: ★★★★☆
• Amenities: ★★★★★
• Service: ★★★★☆
• Value for Money: ★★★★☆

Would I Stay Here Again? 100% YES! I am counting the days until I get to head back to Kauai and stay here again (just saving my pennies in the meantime).

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🌅 Travel Essentials – Don’t forget to pack these in your suitcase!

• Waterproof phone case – Perfect for keeping your phone dry and safe while you take a swim in the ocean. Don’t forget to snap some incredible underwater photos as well.
• Handheld fan – Hawaii can get warm! Make sure you stay cool with this compact handheld fan that can easily fit in your beach bag.
• Refillable water bottle – Make sure to stay hydrated on the go! Whether you are hiking, sailing or just enjoying a beach day, make sure you have your water bottle in hand.
• Hands free phone holder for air planes – The fight to Hawaii is LONG! Don’t let your hand fall asleep while watching movies on your phone.