Police are holding a suspect in what they described as an "unprovoked attack"  on a man who had just parked his car in front of Mayor Wright Homes housing project early this morning.

Paramedics took the victim to the hospital in serious condition with two stab wounds to his cheek and two stab wounds to his shoulder blade, police said.

He was later upgraded to stable condition.The victim had just gotten out of his car on Liliha street when the suspect confronted and stabbed him just before 2 a.m., police said.

Police arrested the 24-year-old suspect, of no permanent address, on North King Street a short time later on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder.

He was also later arrested on a contempt of court count. The stabbing was the third in the public housing complex area in the past year.

On Jan. 27, a 32-year-old man died from stab wounds and three others were seriously injured.

On Sept. 10, 2011, police arrested 21-year-old Takson Krstoth for the fatal stabbing of TJ "Tipuk" Mori, 24, after an argument at the complex. Krstoth is awaiting trial after being charged with second-degree murder.

In the January incident, police arrested a 33-year-old tenant, but released him after the prosecutor’s office said he acted in self-defense. 

To stem the violence, the Public Housing Authority hired Matt Levi Security to provide security at the complex beginning last month.

The state Sheriff Division also is working on a project to establish a permanent presence at Mayor Wright Homes

Hakim Ouansafi, executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, issued a written statement pointing out that this morning’s incident "did not in fact occur on the Mayor Wright Homes property" which the agency manages.

He added: "While the HPHA cannot comment on an ongoing investigation by the Honolulu Police Department, we are pleased to see that our recent efforts at securing the property are having an immediate effect."