PEARL CITY — A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death in his home early this morning and police are continuing to search for two men in connection with the slaying.

Police at the scene said the stabbing occurred when an argument escalated and the victim was stabbed once in the chest.

The suspects entered the townhome, located at 98-825 Noelani St. in Pearl City, wearing white goalie masks and dressed in black pants and black hooded sweatshirts. One suspect was armed with a knife, the other a gun, police said.

The incident was not a random home invasion, said Maj. Frank Fujii this afternoon at a press briefing outside of the Honolulu Police station.

The stabbing victim, who has not yet been identified by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office, was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and died shortly before 3 a.m., Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said.

Police said a 27-year-old woman, the victim's girlfriend, who also lives at the address, was hit with the butt of the handgun and suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, police said.

Other family members also were home at the time of the attack, Capt. Richard Robinson of the Honolulu Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division said, declining to elaborate. No one else was injured.

Neighbors said the victim had lived in the complex for several years and has a 2-year-old daughter. Police said the toddler was not home at the time of the attack.

"They're good people. I've lived by him nearly all my life," said Hilarion Gascon, who has lived in the Waiau condos for more than 20 years. "They never bothered anybody. They liked to have some drinks and have fun, but he kept to himself and his family."

Gascon and his girlfriend, Dana Baba, said the condo area has few problems and both called it a quiet neighborhood.

The stabbing came as a shock to them and other residents, who declined to be identified.

"You wonder what's happened," Baba said.

Few details of what transpired have been released. According to a police report, the suspects entered the home through an unlocked door and demanded property. The male victim was stabbed in the chest while confronting the suspects. The female victim was then struck by the second suspect with the handgun.

Robinson described both men as African Americans in their early 20s. The first suspect, armed with the knife, is 6 feet, weighs between 140 and 160 pounds and was wearing a black long-sleeve hooded shirt and black pants. The second suspect is between 5-foot-10 to 6 feet, slim, wearing a black long-sleeve hooded shirt and black plants and athletic shoes.

A police helicopter was searching above the Pearl City area until shortly before 5 a.m. and canine patrols were also searching the area.

Police did not say what, if any, property was stolen.

The men are wanted on suspicion of second-degree murder and first-degree robbery.