HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Venture Capital Association said it is outraged that another organization using a very similar name on Thursday endorsed Mufi Hannemann for governor when the HVA two months ago endorsed Neil Abercrombie.

The Hawaii Venture Capital Association endorsed Abercrombie on July 29.

Then, nine days after the HVA's Abercrombie endorsement, a group incorporated with the confusingly similar name "Venture Capital Association of Hawaii."

"I am outraged, and the people I know in the Hawaii Venture Capital Association are likewise outraged. What happened here is they took our name. They knocked off our name. It takes our endorsement away. It confuses everybody all at a time when people are starting to send ballots in. So this is really a strategic tactical time to play a dirty trick like this," said Jay Fidell with Hawaii Venture Capital Association.

The Venture Capital Association, the group that endorsed Hannemann, has a website and lists 10 members.

Larry Harmon is listed as its director. Harmon did not return KITV's calls Saturday to his office and to a cell phone number on the mainland.

Hannemann Campaign spokeswoman Carolyn Tanaka said she was unaware of any other ways to help KITV reach Harmon or his organization.

Fidell said if the new group was valid, it would have used a name that clearly differentiated itself and didn't confuse people.