Honolulu police yesterday arrested three men in Pearl City on suspicion of kidnapping a 26-year-old man, who claims he was also threatened with a handgun.

The three men, ages 30, 30 and 29, were arrested by plainclothes officers at 8 p.m.

The complainant told police he was forced into a car by acquaintances and taken to a nearby area where one of the men allegedly threatened him with a gun. The complainant managed to escape by gaining control of the weapon in a struggle with his abductors. The man ran to the Pearl City police station and reported the incident.

He later assisted police by contacting the three men by cellular telephone. They agreed to meet but police were waiting when the three men showed up.

Crewman critically hurt in fall at sea

A 24-year-old crewman whose legs were cut by a cruise ship's propellers after he fell overboard at sea was listed today in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center. A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules airplane from Barbers Point transported Percival Meruena, a Filipino national, from Christmas Island to O'ahu yesterday.

Meruena is a crewman aboard the Norwegian Star. The accident occurred 1,000 miles south of Honolulu.