The hotel, formerly known as the Princeville Resort, boasts one of the most desirable pieces of real estate in Hawaii.  Perched on a cliff above Hanalei Bay, the resort offers breathtaking views of the bay and the peak that played Bali Hai in the movie South Pacific.

Always the most luxurious of the Princeville hotels, the old Princeville Resort has been elevated to an even higher standard.  With fewer than twenty properties worldwide, St. Regis is the most exclusive of the Starwood brands.  And the owners spent more than a year making the property worthy of the St. Regis name.

The resort now has 252 guest rooms, including 51 ocean-view suites.  The lobby features lots of native wood, soaring ceilings, and unforgettable views of Mt. Makana.  And a new 10,000-square-foot Halele’a (House of Joy) Spa offers exotic treatments and traditional Hawaiian healing massages.

There are five restaurants, including celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s new Kauai Grill and an ocean-front bar that overlooks the 5,000-square-foot infinity pool and Hanalei Bay.  Golfers will also enjoy the  two world-class courses.

It’s a challenging time to open a new luxury property, and most Hawaii hotels are weathering the recession by discounting their rates.  In fact, the average Hawaii nightly rate in early September was $160 — a far cry from the $360 to $6,500 rack rate at the St. Regis.  Once occupancy stabilizes, it will likely be one of the most expensive Kauai hotels.

But bookings for October are 20% better than projected.  And Hawaii residents can enjoy a special introductory rate of $199 per night.

Former guests will be pleased to know that an astonishing 96% of the old Princeville Resort staff are returning to the property.  And there are four “quintessential celebration” packages in October and November.  The first features a showing of the 1958 classic South Pacific and an appearance by  Mitzi Gaynor, who starred in the film.

For more information, visit Princeville and the North Shore on Kauai Hawaii Guide.