1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

Excellent

I wanted to really love this hotel but it didnt quite hit the mark. The rooms were beautifully appointed and laid out - we have an ocean view with a terrace. The views were hypnotic, it was hard to drag yourself off the day bed to start your day. Welina Terrace was the highlight for Japanese cuisine and delicious cocktails with an extensive wine list. The Concierge desk are working hard for the money - they have great knowledge of the island and are very helpful - make sure you book the helicopter ride. The hotel was running at nearly full capacity as were told by nearly every department and they could not keep up with the demand. It felt like each department was down a few staff and were pushed to the limit to deliver great service. We paid $2000 AUD per evening and with that price you should experience great service . My advise is to go outside of holidays and lower expectations. It felt low of managers , just staff racing as fast as they can to meet basic guest expectations.

The views from the 1 are spectacular but for me that’s where spectacular ended. This was a splurge for us, I usually cap hotel room prices depending on where I’m going. I live in a beach town on the CA coast and I think I am reasonable with cost/value analysis with hotel stays in various places. Check in: you pre check-in at a gate, they inform valet. This did not go smooth for us as the valet drivers were like who are you? They didn’t say you were coming. Yes, they did. I heard the woman call on her walkie. Anyways, after that is sorted we were led into reception where you sit and they let you know about the faculty and such. You will also be offered juice in the size of a shot glass. Very strange. Would have preferred a small glass but okay. Taken to our room, the view is stunning. I’ve been to Hanalei quite a few times and when I was younger lived on a neighbor island and this hotel delivers when it comes to ocean view at least on the side/floor we were on. The room. Very clean, nicely decorated but the walls are dark and on overcast days makes the room very dark. I personally did not like the shower not having a door. I was with my husband but if I would have been with a friend or sibling and they wanted to use the bathroom they would be able to see me shower. One side of the bed has an attached nightstand with a large plant in back of it, if sleeping on that side you can’t simply use the path behind the bed to use the bathroom but rather walk around the entire front area of the bed space. Pillows were horrible, very flat but bed and linens very good. Dining, we used Amex to book so breakfast included. The breakfast buffet was good but ordering from menu will negate the complimentary breakfast. Also they include an 18% gratuity that no one will point out to you. Welina terrace has some solid sushi but the menu is extremely limited. Service in both areas is terrible. Would you like more water? Get prepared to wait forever. Want your check after you’ve been done for a while? Again wait, the table next to us said they were leaving and were going to let the hostess know to charge their room. We both wondered if our server had gone to break or had ended their shift. Beach: Not the greatest for swimming right out front but nice beach, beach staff (them and housekeeping were up to par) was on it and provided fast, friendly, capable service. Vibe: staff needs to step it up overall. For the price it needs more attentive/knowledgeable about hospitality staff. I was disappointed in the techno/trance like music while dining at Welina Terrace. One of the nights there was a guy playing reggae but it was not good. Played same song twice in a ten minute span and talked way too much during set. The 1 should take a cue from the Grand Hyatt which has excellent live music that honors the Hawaiian culture. If staffing improves (exception is beach staff, housekeeping, and the bell guy who provided more details about room than check in person;these thr

We had researched the best hotels in Kauai and the clear consensus was one Hanalei. Unfortunately the room combinations are confusing and there is a multiple terraced layout to consider. We chatted with multiple onsite reservation agents to get us the perfect room with a compromise of the location being two queens. When we arrived we were dismayed that the room and the entire class of target rooms was booked. However Sam the manager on call spent a great deal of time and creatively found a solution to swap out rooms which exceeded our expectations. Kudos to him for turning a major disappointment to a pleasant surprise! Great managerial dexterity that enabled the guests to retain satisfaction!

Tho most everything about the hotel was outstanding, the food, the grounds, the service, the spa is by far in my top three I’ve ever been to. The facilities are fantastic and tho all my treatments were amazing one therapist in particular, Wanda, was hands down the best massage therapist I have ever worked with. I have travelled all over Europe, Asia and the Americas and had many many treatments and she is in a league of her own. Highly recommend across the boards.

"We had an incredible experience with our resort photographer, Ava! She was professional, friendly, and made us feel so comfortable during our session. The photos turned out absolutely stunning, capturing every moment perfectly with vibrant colors and beautiful composition. Their attention to detail and creative eye truly made our memories unforgettable. Highly recommend their services for anyone looking to preserve their special moments at the 1 Hotel Hanalei.