A group called the Aloha Family Alliance this week sent out thousands of fliers showing two men in black suits embracing, about to kiss. They appear to be getting married.

The caption on the flier read, "Don't be fooled. Civil unions is same sex marriage."

It targets State Rep. Blake Oshiro (D) a gay attorney who is the author of the civil unions bill to give homosexual and heterosexual all the benefits of marriage under Hawaii state law. HB444, as the civil unions legislation is popularly known, was vetoed this summer by Gov. Linda Lingle (R).

Oshiro said Thursday he was surprised and disappointed his opponents would go on the attack just days before Hawaii's primary election Saturday.

"I think it is sad people need to resort to such negative imagery in order to get their point across," said Oshiro.

The flier urged support for Oshiro's Democratic primary election opponent Honolulu Councilman Gary Okino, a staunch opponent of civil unions.

Okino has made a crusade out of trying to block legislation that benefits gays.

"If you want a society that is righteous, moral, that is what you have to base your vote on," Okino said Wednesday.

The Aloha Family Alliance that sponsored the flier was described by member James Silva as a small group of six mostly Catholic men from the Aina Haina area.

A word in the flier is misspelled