HONOLULU -- Honolulu police said Friday's fatal stabbing in Ewa Beach appears to be a random attack.

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The victim, identified as 43-year-old Asa Yamashita, had just gotten her hair done at Supercuts at the Ewa Town Center and was waiting for her husband to pick her up when she was attacked at about 1:30 p.m., police said.

She stumbled into a nearby nail salon, where employees there attempted to stop the bleeding, police said.

Yamashita was rushed to St. Francis West, where she died.

Police arrested Tittleman Faua-tea across the street from the crime scene, where he was smoking a cigarette.

Police do not believe Yamashita knew her attacker.

Yamashita was a teacher, wife and mother. She was being remembered Saturday as a petite woman with a big heart, powerful mind and generous spirit.

Asa Yamashita was married to another teacher, Bryan Yamashita.

Their life centered on helping young people and raising their two daughters, Katie, 7, and Tori, 4, both adopted from China.

"I am trying to accept it, because if I don't, it is hard for me to help my girls. That is my main concern," Bryan Yamashita said. Asa Yamashita was an English teacher at Waianae High School and, for the last five years, she had been the school's literacy counselor.

Teaching colleagues gathered Saturday to remember Yamashita. Teacher Wendy Fujitani said she'll miss Yamashita's mentoring.

Her friends said Yamashita loved books, peppermints and Twix bars, but most of all her family.

Hawaii court records show one prior conviction against Faua-tea. Last November, he spent six days in jail for a harassment conviction, which is a petty misdemeanor.