Stabbing victim Theresita Paulo had been living with her boyfriend, Harlan B. Kamekona, in Kaneohe until about a week ago, when she left him, her friend Yvonne Fernandez said.

Fernandez said although Kamekona was possessive, they never thought he would try to kill her.

“;I really didn't expect it,”; said Fernandez. “;I don't think Terry expected it.”;

Fernandez said Kamekona did not want Paulo to break up with him, which she tried to do several times.

Paulo, 38, who has three children, was in fair condition in the hospital yesterday after undergoing surgery Tuesday night, friends said.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office said Kamekona died of multiple stab wounds into his heart and chest that caused massive bleeding. Witnesses said he stabbed himself after attacking Paulo.

The results of tests to determine whether drugs were in his system are pending, the office said.

Kamekona, 49, served nine years in prison after a conspiracy conviction in 1998 involving methamphetamine.

Attorney Michael Green, who represented Kamekona in a lawsuit, said Kamekona was going through a dispute with a former business partner.

Green said he met with Kamekona regularly and never knew he was so despondent.

“;I'm just shocked,”; Green said.

Kamekona operated Bad Boy's Trucking, where Paulo worked.

Paulo was with her friends Tuesday morning during a weekly bowling league event at Pali Lanes in Kailua when Kamekona entered and fired a handgun, witnesses said.

Her friends said Kamekona fired once at Paulo but missed, and when the gun jammed he pulled out a knife and attacked her.

Fernandez said Paulo kept trying to elude Kamekona and her solid build probably helped her survive multiple stab wounds.

Paulette Miyakawa, another friend of Paulo's, said she never saw Kamekona act violently.

“;But you can never tell. You don't know what happens behind closed doors,”; Miyakawa said.