Twenty-year-old Kelii Acasia faces a mandatory 20-year term in prison after he was convicted yesterday of manslaughter in the death last year of Ned Nakoa.

A Circuit Court jury deliberated a half-day before reaching the verdict. Acasia had been charged with murder for fatally punching and kicking Nakoa, 58, described as a "Good Samaritan" who tried stop a sidewalk fight in Waikiki on May 17, 2008.

"He was a very good person and we all miss him," said Nakoa's sister, Paula Rabanes.

Defense attorney Keith Shigetomi said Acasia was "disappointed" by the verdict, which Shigetomi called a "sweet and sour decision" by the jury.

Acasia avoided a murder conviction, but was hoping for a lesser verdict than manslaughter, Shigetomi said.

Because he is on probation for a sex assault conviction, Acasia faces a mandatory 20-year prison term when he is sentenced July 13 by Circuit Judge Steven Alm.