The Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s executive director promises to persevere until residents feel safe at Mayor Wright Homes after a father of three was fatally stabbed there Friday.

"I will not rest until my mother can move there, and I’ll be comfortable that she’s there," Hakim Ouansafi said Saturday. "We’re on the way to recovery."

He said after becoming executive director three weeks ago he made a commitment to improving Mayor Wright, and his staff met with Kalihi police about a week ago to discuss increasing safety. Housing officials are also working with the Weed and Seed program, which weeds out criminal elements and invites community involvement.

Housing officials plan to hold a public meeting with residents Thursday about security issues. He said the housing authority is trying to create a policy for resident and visitor passes to reduce the presence of people not wanted on the property.

The housing authority already started installing new fencing to close unsecured entry points and is looking at installing security cameras on property and creating a curfew.

"This will not do much if the residents themselves don’t work with us hand in hand," he said, adding that he wants the residents to take control of their community.

"Everything is done with one thing in mind — the safety and security of our tenants and our children," he said.

Chersita Bossy, who lives at Mayor Wright, identified the 32-year-old man who was fatally stabbed as her cousin, Benjamin Rekis, of Mililani. She said he was a father of three, including a daughter who just turned 1, and worked at a movie theater in Mililani.

Rekis was the second victim in a fatal stabbing at the Kapalama public housing property in five months. TJ Mori, 24, who was Bossy’s brother-in-law, was also stabbed to death in September. Takson Krstoth has been charged in that case.

Police said Friday’s attack began with an argument involving several people about 6:45 p.m., and a 33-year-old man pulled out a knife and stabbed Rekis, who later died at the hospital. Three other men, 32, 35 and 53, had possible stab wounds and were also taken to the hospital, police said. Enrico Golden, 33, was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.

Bossy said property security guards did not do their job because her sister’s boyfriend — who had been banned from the property — came on property and security saw him but did not stop him. She said he then got into an argument with Golden, which caused the brawl in which Rekis, his older brother and Bossy’s father were stabbed.

She said Rekis had been visiting to organize prayers at people’s homes because he had his own ministry.

"When I came outside, he was already on the sidewalk, calling out for help that he got hurt," she said. "He’s a really good guy. He don’t even make trouble. He’s a family guy."

She said Rekis came from Chuuk in 2004 for a better school for his children.

"Benjamin is the kind of guy you won’t see trouble with," she said.

Bobbi Golden, whose husband, Enrico, was arrested, said she saw 10 people attacking her husband but did not think he stabbed anyone. She said there were dozens of people fighting amid a group of about 75 people, and any of them could have done it.

"I’m just trying to stay strong for my kids," she said. Weeping for Rekis’ family, she added, "I’m just sorry for their loss."

She, too, said she felt unsafe at Mayor Wright.

"It just seems that whenever there’s an altercation, it’s an excuse for someone to pull out a knife," she said, adding that people tend to carry kitchen knives around the housing complex. She and her husband have seen people being chased by others wielding knives.

Bossy said her family was trying to deal with the loss peacefully, despite the Golden family living in the next building and overlooking her home.

"We just put everything in God’s hands," she said. "We’re not the bad guys. We’re not the ones who make the revenge. God will put things in its place.

"We don’t want to be like Enrico, hurting people. That’s not Benjamin."