New full body scanners at Honolulu Airport unveiled

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John Brandon, Transportation Security Manager, stands inside of Advanced Imaging Technology scanner.

The Transportation Security Administration this morning unveiled a new advanced imaging technology for passengers at the Honolulu Airport.

The new scanners can look through a person's clothing to produce full-body images.

The TSA said the technology safely screens passengers for metallic and nonmetallic threats, including explosives.

This summer Lihue Airport became the first airport in the state to begin screening passengers with the advanced imaging device.

Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the TSA said this summer that passengers' privacy is protected in several ways. The face of the subject is blurred; the security officer who sees the image never sees the actual passenger (and would radio a second officer if an anomaly showed up); and images are erased before the next passenger is scanned. The machine cannot store or transmit images, she said.

Passengers also have the option of going through a body search, rather than using the device.

The TSA hopes to have 500 airports equipped with the advanced imaging scanners by the end of this year and 1,100 by the end of next year.