Nick Tudisco, who was 18 at the time of the August 2001 collision and is now 21, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto as a youth offender.

The judge rejected the prosecution's recommendation of a maximum 20-year prison term as too severe and the defense request for probation and a year in jail as too lenient.

Sakamoto rendered his ruling following a heart-wrenching hearing during which the judge heard from relatives and friends of both Kekoa and Tudisco in the packed courtroom.

Tudisco, who wept during the hearing, told the judge he's sorry and thinks of what happened every day.

The judge ordered Tudisco to start his prison term Sept. 1 after he graduates from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

"I'm sure Mrs. Kekoa would understand it's an important part on your path of redemption," he said.

Tudisco was found guilty of manslaughter after he pleaded no-contest in January and decided not to challenge the charge.

Kekoa, 58, was a well-respected teacher at Holy Trinity School when she was killed in the early morning collision Aug. 26, 2001.