A motorcyclist was killed yesterday in a single-vehicle accident on Kekaulike Highway in Kula, police said.

Police said 40-year-old Michael Loriaux, of Kula, died at the scene around 2:15 p.m. He was not wearing a helmet or protective eye gear when he failed to negotiate a turn on the highway, police said.

The motorcycle, a 400cc 2003 Kawasaki KLX dirt bike, was headed in the Pukalani direction when it collided with the guard rail.

This is Maui's 16th traffic fatality of 2008, compared with 17 at the same time last year, police said. And it is the seventh fatal crash involving a motorcycle so far this year.

LINGLE HITTING TRAIL FOR MCCAIN AGAIN

Gov. Linda Lingle will make appearances for U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in Pennsylvania and Ohio next week, according to her staff.

Both states are considered battlegrounds and Pennsylvania, in particular, has been identified as essential for McCain to win the White House over his Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

The Mainland campaign trip will be the third Lingle has made as a national surrogate for McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

COAST GUARD ENDS HUNT FOR KAYAKER

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended a search that began Sunday for a missing kayaker last seen near Kapa'a Beach Park on the Big Island.

Crews using air and surface ships have searched more than 22,000 square miles, an area five times larger than the Big Island. Mainly, the search has focused on the shoreline of the North Kohala District, between the Big Island and Maui and the waters southwest of the Big Island.

Miguel Ferrufino, 26, was last seen Oct. 18 when he went on a paddling excursion in his yellow boat wearing multi-colored shorts and a dark-blue T-shirt, authorities said.

Anyone with information on the missing kayaker should call the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600.

ROBBERY REPORTED AT UH DORMITORY

A University of Hawai'i-Manoa student was robbed of cash by two men at Gateway House early yesterday morning, university officials said.

The victim of the 2:15 a.m. robbery allegedly knew his attackers, said Gregg Takayama, UH spokesman. The two men forcibly robbed the student in the hallway near his dorm room before fleeing, Takayama said. Campus security and Honolulu police arrested one of the men, who is a student and resident of Hale Wainani dorm, Takayama said.

The other suspect has not been arrested, Takayama said.

Yesterday's robbery was the latest in a number of similar crimes on or near the campus since the start of the fall semester.

WHALE COUNCIL HAS SEATS TO FILL

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking people to fill seven of 15 nongovernmental seats and nine alternate positions on its Sanctuary Advisory Council.

The vacant seats for two-year terms include primary and alternate members for: Business/Commerce, Citizen-At-Large, Commercial Shipping, Conservation, Ocean Recreation, Tourism, and Whale Watching. There are also openings for one-year-term alternates for Fishing and Native Hawaiian seats.

Since 1996 the council has provided management advice to sanctuary staff and served as a liaison to the community.

More information on the council and a downloadable application form are at: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/advisory_council.html.

The deadline for application submittal is Nov. 15.