A 29-year-old drunken driver who killed a mother of six after slamming into the back of her car was sentenced to a year in prison yesterday after an emotional court hearing.

Ronald Kubo Jr., who pleaded no contest to first-degree negligent homicide in March, also was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $4,757.14 in restitution to the family of Johnelle Tapu.

Tapu's vehicle was struck at 11:09 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2003, as she was driving on the H-1 Freeway near 'Aiea. The Waipahu woman was on her way to her job as a security guard at Honolulu International Airport. She died the next morning in a hospital.

Kubo faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Tapu's family was disappointed and angry with the sentence.

"I'm mad because I don't think justice was done for my sister. One year and five years' probation? What about my sister? She has six children," said her sister, Lehua Vete. "This decision the judge has made is wrong. This tells all the young kids to go out there and get drunk."

Tapu stopped in the middle of the freeway because an accident had blocked the road. Kubo, who had been drinking and speeding, hit Tapu's Nissan Sentra from behind.

During the sentencing, Circuit Judge Karl K. Sakamoto told Kubo: "Drinking, driving, death is an obvious equation.

"That obvious equation, you totally disregarded and you took the life of this beautiful, loving woman. And for that you will have a jail term to reflect on."

During the hearing, 11 of Tapu's relatives addressed Kubo directly. In all, about 20 family members packed the courtroom and all wore matching white T-shirts emblazoned with her picture surrounded by the words "Killed by a drunk driver."

While members of the family spoke, pictures and video from the accident and Tapu's funeral played on a large projection screen.

Kata Finau Jr., Tapu's son, walked into the courtroom carrying a green urn containing her ashes.

Tapu's brother Darrin Manu addressed the driver. "Kubo, you know, this is Johnelle right here. I like you look at this and this screen," Manu said as he pounded the top of the urn. "Kubo, this is never over. When you get out I'm going to come looking for you and you're going to pay; you're going to take care of these children."

Deputy prosecuting attorney Kory Young said he was disappointed by the sentence. "We were hoping for the whole thing (10 years)," he said.

Kubo, dressed in a short-sleeve black shirt and khaki slacks, and wearing glasses, stared at the floor for most of the proceedings, occasionally removing his glasses and running his hands over his head.

After Tapu's family spoke, the judge gave Kubo a chance to speak.

"I made a bad mistake that night, a terrible one. It's been a long three years, and there hasn't been much time I haven't thought about the situation. I'm not the kind of guy who backs away from anything. I made a mistake," he said, his voice breaking. "I really, really want to apologize and say I'm sorry. If I could take it back and be in her place, I would."

Kubo's attorney, Guy Matsunaga, commended his client for "stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility." Matsunaga said Kubo, a former member of the Hawai'i National Guard, told him not to go to trial so that the family would be spared from more grief.

"He said, 'It's my bad, I'm not putting the family through this,'" Matsunaga said. "I had to talk him out of numerous, numerous suicide attempts."

Davelle Finau, Tapu's daughter, speaking with the help of a Tongan translator, said calling her aunties on Mother's Day is no substitute for having her mother to hug and hold.

"This man stole my mom; it's very hard," she said. "I miss my mom."

The family is still pursuing a civil suit against Kubo, filed by attorney Richard Turbin in April 2003.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.