SeaWorld whale gets Hawaiian name

ORLANDO, Fla. » SeaWorld’s newest baby killer whale now has a name.

Makaio, meaning "gift of God" in Hawaiian, was the most popular choice of a Facebook poll commissioned by the Orlando theme park to name the whale.

The name received about 55 percent of the vote, coming in ahead of "Nico," from the Greek name Nikos, and the Japanese name "Haruki," or "shining brightly."

Makaio was born in October and was the first successful birth since Malia was born in 2007.

Orlando’s SeaWorld now has seven of 42 killer whales that are in captivity. SeaWorld has seven killer whales at its California location and six whales at its Texas park.

Paintings of rare birds on display

Volcano, Hawaii » Artist Marian Berger’s watercolor paintings of rare Hawaii birds are on display until March 6 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Volcanoes National Park.

Many of the 37 species of birds depicted in the exhibit, "Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii," are endangered species.

Entry into the Volcano Art Center Gallery is free; park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-7565 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Special rooms feature purified air

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa now has 24 hypoallergenic rooms, which are available to any guest but could be of special interest to those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions.

Purification methods eliminate up to 98 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria from the rooms, according to a statement.

For more information visit waikiki.hyatt.com or call 800-233-1234. The kamaaina rate starts at $245.

New planetarium shows offered

Hilo » The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is offering two new planetarium shows. "We Are Astronomers" plays at 1 and 3 p.m. daily, and the new keiki show "Our Place in Space" plays at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, according to a release.

"We Are Astronomers" familiarizes guests with the job of astronomers and explains technologies used in observatories, the Large Hadron Collider and the Hubble Space Telescope.

The children’s program "Our Place in Space" explains concepts about constellations, the cause of day and night, the sun and the objects that make up the universe.

Tickets to the center include admission to the Exhibit Hall and planetarium show. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.imiloahawaii.org or call 969-9700 (for recorded information) or 969-9703.

Museum sets half-off admission

Wailuku, Maui » Admission to the Maui Historical Society/Bailey House Museum will be discounted 50 percent on ‘Ohana Day, Jan. 30.

The museum will be open from noon until 4 p.m. Admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for seniors. Children 12 and under will be free. Light refreshments will be provided.