HONOLULU -- Advocates for the separation of church and state have filed an ethics complaint against Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona.

The complaint is over a trip the lieutenant governor took four years ago, to a religious group's meeting in Argentina.

Activist Carroll Cox filed the ethics complaint over Aiona and State Sen. Norman Sakamoto's trip to the to the 2006 convention in Argentina of the evangelical Christian International Transformation Network.

(Raw Video: Lt. Gov. Aiona Interview)

Cox feels that by taking the free trip, Aiona crossed the boundary between church and state.

"This isn't up for interpretation," Cox Said. “Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona has overstepped his bounds.”

Aiona said, "I understand the constitutional requirement of the separation of church and state and I have never abused my office in any way, nor used my office in anyway, to violate those constitutional tenants."

Aiona disclosed the trip as a gift on state disclosures, and says the trip was strictly personal, “I always let them know that it’s never, it’s never in the capacity of the lieutenant governor, it’s always as Duke Aiona, the resident of the state of Hawaii."

However, since the convention, the organization’s videos prominently feature Aiona, and his official title. And two years later, at another Transformation Network event in Hawaii, Aiona was the center of a group prayer. By organization leader Ed Silvoso, in which Silvoso said, “There is an even greater future for the lieutenant governor and his wife.”

In another Transformation Network video, Aiona makes this prayer: “We declare that our school will become God’s school, and our Hawaii will become God’s Hawaii.”

Cox complained that Aiona “is dedicating the schools and the state and the people of Hawaii to God. I am a citizen, let me make my choices. I don't need my government dedicating me to any higher authority.”

Cox and other critics of the Transformation Network said it promotes hatred, and even elimination of homosexuals. “Other people in that hierarchy speak of homosexuality as a scourge, and that we must get rid of it they must get rid of it.”

Cox said he wants Aiona and others who have appeared at the organization’s events to disclaim those views. Aiona said he opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation and he doesn't believe, as shown on the Transformation Network’s videos, that homosexuality can be cured by prayer.

“That might be someone's belief. That may be an organization's belief that is not my belief," Aiona said. Aiona said he is Catholic.

Harsh criticism of Aiona's religious activities, associating him with various groups and beliefs can be found on a number of websites. They use the videos, but some of them inaccurately put quotes, misquotes and collapse dates to paint an even more negative picture.

Aiona said he doesn't believe the attacks will harm him.

“I will call it what it is. It is more than a misrepresentation. It’s false and it’s deceitful, and it’s not a representation of my individual faith, and it’s not a representation of how I've conducted myself in public office," Aiona said.