Tenants of Mayor Wright Homes need to work together to create a stronger and safer community, a board member of the tenants association said in the wake of Friday’s fatal stabbing of a Mililani man who was visiting the Kalihi public housing complex.

"Where do we go from here as residents?" Marleen Lafaele, secretary of the Mayor Wright Tenants Association, said during a prayer vigil Tuesday. "For anything to change, we need to come together as one."

Lafaele was among about 30 people, including Mayor Wright tenants as well as clergy from the Faith Action for Community Equity group, who participated in the vigil, which was held to pray for change in the community.

Esewil Y. Rekis, 32, was fatally stabbed Friday following an argument involving a group of people. Rekis died of a stab wound to the chest with injuries to his heart and lung, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.

Authorities released a 33-year-old man who had been arrested. Prosecutors declined to file charges because of self-defense issues, said Dave Koga, a spokes­man for the Hono­lulu Prosecutor’s Office.

It was the second fatal stabbing at Mayor Wright in five months. In September TJ "Tipuk" Mori was killed, and Takson Krstoth, 21, was charged with second-degree murder.

Nite Kristoph, vice president of the tenants association, said Tuesday’s vigil was held to help the community heal and come together. What happened on Friday was tragic and violent, she said.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority will hold a public meeting with tenants Thursday to discuss proposed and planned security measures that include creating a policy for resident and visitor passes, closing unsecured entry points to the housing complex with fencing, installing security cameras and imposing a curfew. Hiring additional security guards is also being considered.

The public housing authority will work with tenants to come up with a comprehensive plan for the curfew. Officials are reviewing bids for contracts to install security cameras at entry points.

Hilda Urita, a Mayor Wright resident since 1969, was at the vigil and said she supports security cameras and a curfew to ensure safety for children and families.

Paulo Leuta, who moved into the housing complex in 2008 with his wife and three children, said closing unsecured entry points would be ineffective because people can climb over the chain-link fence that surrounds Mayor Wright.

Also, security cameras are not practical, he added, saying vandals would damage the devices. "It will be a waste of money and time to install it," Leuta said.