A 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon in connection with Friday's stabbing of a man in Chinatown.

Hine Laloulu turned himself in at the Kalihi police substation about 4:30 p.m. yesterday. He was booked for investigation of one count of second-degree attempted murder and was transferred to the main police station.

Laloulu, who listed no local address, is suspected of being one of several men who beat and stabbed a man and assaulted a woman Friday afternoon on River Street. The 32-year-old victim told police he was standing at a bus stop on River Street with two friends when they were approached by a group of men shortly after 1:30 p.m.

He told police that the men began to punch and kick him and a female acquaintance for no apparent reason. The third member of the victim's group managed to flee, police said.

During the assault, the victim said one of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed him several times in the stomach. The assailant was described as in his 20s, police said.

The man was taken by friends to The Queen's Medical Center for treatment. The female victim also was taken to Queen's in stable condition.

Police believe the incident is related to an ongoing battle between rival organized crime groups to control the distribution of drugs in the Downtown area. One of the groups is based in San Francisco, police said.

On March 28, Joseph Peneueta was shot to death as he attempted to flee from two gunmen at River and Pauahi Streets. Two men charged with his murder, Zorro Rye and Iosefa Pasene, are believed to be members of the Mainland gang.

Friday's stabbing victim and Pasene are co-defendants in a case of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.