Aaron Meyer, 49, yesterday admitted his part in the 1977 robbery and killing of Mo'ili'ili store owner Toshio Kawano as part a plea agreement that calls for him to serve at least five years in prison.

The five-year minimum sentence recognized Meyer's cooperation with investigators in the state attorney general's "cold case" unit and followed co-defendant Melvin Kumukau's guilty pleas last week.

Both men pleaded guilty to manslaughter and first-degree robbery, which carry maximum terms of 20 years behind bars.

The Hawai'i Paroling Authority will determine how much time each man must serve before being considered for parole.

Both Kumukau and Meyer are already serving life sentences — with the possibility of parole -for other crimes committed after the slaying of Kawano.

Kawano, operator of a small store, was fatally shot Sept. 26, 1977 during a botched robbery.

"I committed manslaughter. I was a part of that," Meyer told Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall.

Roy Kawano, son of the victim, listened in court as Meyer said, "To Mr. Kawano and his family, I'm sorry for all I did."

Kawano said his family agreed with the plea deals arranged by the attorney general's office.

Kumukau was 17 when Kawano was killed and has been "haunted" by the crime ever since, said his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Teri Marshall.