A 29-year-old Palolo man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly stole a motorcycle, robbed a bank, and led police on a roundabout chase through Honolulu.

Shortly after 9 a.m. the man stole a blue 2005 Suzuki motorcycle in McCully, then made his way to the Bishop Street branch of Hawaii National Bank where he parked in a loading dock, according to police and bank security director Gilbert Shima-tsu.

The man, dressed in a black skull cap and wearing a blue bandanna across his face, entered the bank carrying a handgun and a backpack, police said.

The man jumped over the teller counter and grabbed cash from several drawers before running out of the bank, Shimatsu said. Shimatsu declined to say whether the man threatened anyone or how much money he made off with.

After running out of the bank, the man got back on the motorcycle and drove east on the H-1 Freeway with about 15 police cars and the Honolulu Police Department helicopter in pursuit. Near Kahala Mall, the man made a U-turn and headed west on H-1 before exiting near University Avenue, police said.

HPD's helicopter tracked the man while he drove down Kapi'olani Boulevard and headed mauka toward Round Top Drive.

Once he reached Round Top Drive, the man ditched the bike and took off running down Maunalaha Road. Officers responding to the scene found the man hiding in the brush near the road and took him into custody at 9:55 a.m., police said.

The man could face two robbery charges and a car theft charge, police said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.