Crandall agreed with city prosecutors who asked for the maximum sentence for Aki’s manslaughter conviction and rejected giving him probation and up to a year in jail or an 8-year prison term as a youthful offender.

“This is a tragic case,” Crandall told Aki. “There are two families who have lost their children, Kahealani’s family and your family.”

Aki, 21, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of the girl, who disappeared from her Hälawa neighborhood on Dec. 10, 2002. Her body was discovered by a hiker three days later off the Aiea Loop Trail. But a jury in May found Aki guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter.

Aki testified at the trial that he did not kill Kahealani and blamed her uncle for the slaying.

Aki today tearfully apologized to Kahealani’s family and his own family, but once again maintained he did not kill the girl.

“I’m sorry she can never come back and be with you,” Aki said in court, referring to the girl’s family. “But I never put a hand against her, your daughter, your sister, your niece, your cousin. I hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive me.”

Nearly two dozen of Kahealani’s relatives introduced themselves in court, but did not testify in the hearing about their loss. Lehua Mamala-Tumbaga, Kahelaani’s mother, declined to comment after the sentencing.

The Hawai‘i Paroling Authority will decide how much of the sentence must be served before Aki is eligible for parole. City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said he will ask the parole board to have Aki serve the full 20-year term because of the way he killed the girl.

At the request of Aki’s lawyer, former state Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins, who is now in private practice, Crandall had moved up the sentencing date from July 12 to today.

Those 10 days are significant because Aki turns 22 tomorrow. At age 21 he was eligible for a more lenient sentence under the state’s “young adult offenders” provision. The sentence for manslaughter under the young adult law — applicable to defendants 21 years old and younger — is no more than eight years.

Reach David Waite at dwaite @honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.