Bishop Museum Opens Branch in Waikiki

A Waikiki branch of Hawaii’s venerable Bishop Museum, opened earlier this month, is part of a $95-million expansion of the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort that is also adding a spa. Earlier this year, 453 rooms opened at the new building, Kalia Tower, bringing Hawaii’s biggest hotel to nearly 3,000 rooms.

Until this month, visitors had to travel about five miles from beachfront Waikiki to 1525 Bernice St.to view the Bishop Museum’s extensive Hawaiian cultural and historic collection. Some of the main museum’s artifacts have been transferred to the new branch. Highlights include a royal bedroom set from the late 1800s; a surfboard owned by Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968), who popularized surfing; and gardens with native plants.

The new museum’s programs include Hawaiian Skies and Stars, a small planetarium with a program on how ancient Hawaiian mariners used stars to navigate; Hawaiian Sounds, where visitors can try out the pahu (drum), uli uli (feathered gourd rattle) and other instruments; and lessons in hula and lei making.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Admission is $11.95 adults (versus $14.95 for the main museum), $9.95 ages 4 to 12, free under 4. Telephone (808) 946-9478, Internet https://www.bishopmuseum.org.

By Sept. 14, Mandara Spa, a company that runs more than 50 spas worldwide, including one on the U.S. mainland (in Las Vegas) and several on cruise lines, plans to open a facility at Kalia Tower with 25 treatment rooms, outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, fitness center, beauty salon and spa-cuisine cafe. Prices will range from $98 (for various facials, massages and scrubs) to $350 (for a half-day package). Tel. (808) 923-7721, https://www.mandaraspa.com.

On Sept. 1, Holistica Hawaii, a health center that has been operating in temporary quarters since October, moves into Kalia Tower. It features electronic beam tomography, a screening technique similar to a CAT scan that is controversial in some quarters, and plans to offer multi-day residential programs later in the fall. Tel. (808) 951-6546, https://www.holistica.com.

An Eyeful of Technology for Passport Control

Navigating passport control at London’s Heathrow Airport can be done in the blink of an eye, or so say developers of a space age scanner to be tested this fall.

The system, by EyeTicket Corp. of McLean, Va., consists of a digital camera that scans the eyes of arriving passengers and matches them with passport or other numbers. The process takes less than two seconds, officials say, and allows users to bypass lines at passport counters.

EyeTicket, in a partnership with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, is hoping to get up to 2,000 frequent fliers from North America to enroll in the six-month trial beginning in October. Enrollment involves having your eyes photographed and paired with identifying numbers, said a spokeswoman.

A similar EyeTicket system has screened US Airways employees at North Carolina’s Charlotte-Douglas International Airport since May 2000, she said, but Heathrow marks its first application to passengers.

Cheap Tickets Shuts 9 of 10 Travel Stores

Cheap Tickets Inc., the Honolulu-based seller of discounted air tickets and other travel products, has closed nine of its 10 travel stores, including the one at 6151 W. Century Blvd. near LAX. The actions took place as Cendant Corp. announced plans to buy Cheap Tickets, which had reported a plunge in second-quarter profits because of Web problems and competition.

The closures have not affected Cheap Tickets’ handling of e-tickets. But customers who want paper tickets cannot pick them up last-minute at the stores, a spokeswoman said; instead they must book five days ahead to allow for delivery (usually $11.95; the fee was being waived at press time).Only the company’s kiosk in Honolulu remains open. Tel. (800) 652-4327, https://www.cheaptickets.com.

Cruise Ships Alter Sailings to Alaska Bay

Four cruise lines have cut back visits to Alaska’s Glacier Bay to conform with an Aug. 3 federal court ruling reducing ship entries into the bay. The ruling was on a suit brought by conservationists.

Most of the lines are diverting ships to other scenic stretches of coastline such as Tracy Arm, Icy Bay or Hubbard Glacier. Upcoming sailings that are affected depart today and Aug. 26 by Holland America; Saturday and Aug. 27 by Princess Cruises; and Monday by Norwegian Cruise Line. World Explorer Cruises diverted a ship departing last week. Ships departing after Aug. 31 are not affected.

The court ruling also cut next year’s June-through-August visits to Glacier Bay from 139 to 107. Legislation to reverse that provision was passed by the U.S. Senate in July; its fate awaits action in House-Senate conference committees this fall.

Santa Barbara Tour Focuses on Architecture

The nonprofit Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara this month began a new walking tour of the State Street area focused on the Spanish vernacular architecture, with its distinctive whitewashed adobe, built after an earthquake destroyed many buildings in 1925. Called the Domingo (Sunday) Tour, it leaves at 10 a.m. from the Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St.

The tour lasts about 11/2 hours and costs $5; it’s free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. (No toddlers, organizers ask.) The foundation’s other tour, the Sabado (Saturday) Tour, operated for about seven years, focuses on pre-1925 structures. No reservations are needed for either tour. Tel. (805) 965-6307, https://www.afsb.org.

Traveler’s Notes ...

Low-fare Midway Airlines, citing a “calamitous drop” in travel by high-tech companies near its hub at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, last week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced it would eliminate nearly half its flights, including a daily nonstop between LAX and Raleigh, which it began June 1 and will end today. ... The Queen Mary attraction in Long Beach is welcoming same-sex couples aboard for commitment ceremonies in its newly renovated Art Deco Chapel. Prices are the same as for heterosexual weddings, a spokeswoman said. They start at $1,100 for a 11/2-hour ceremony. Tel. (562) 499-1699. ... And speaking of nuptials at sea, guests who miss the boat for a couple’s onboard wedding on Princess’ Golden Princess ship can now view the proceedings via a live camera feed on the Internet.

Compiled by Jane Engle