The editor of an online newspaper featuring the cartoon called the piece political humor but officials from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said the cartoon was a racial slur.

Kau Inoa is the campaign to register Native Hawaiians for a new government. But a new cartoon titled "Cow Inoa" features a picture of a cow called "Haunani Moo."

The text next to the cartoon read, "As native cows, we deeply resent all the cows that came to Hawaii after us ... And in the spirit of aloha, we don't wish to share our grass with imported cows."

"It doesn't even have anything to do with Kau Inoa. There's no political connection to that whatsoever. They just think it's funny to go ahead and poke fun at Hawaiians," said Crystal Kua, director of communications for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The co-founder of the online newspaper Hawaii Reporter said the cartoon was sent in from another Web site, and in keeping with the newspaper's policy, it published the piece.

"That's been our policy since day 1 when we opened 6 years ago, as long as it's clear and not libelous. That's our policy. We wanna let people express their views and get a debate going in the community," said Malia Zimmerman, co-founder of Hawaii Reporter.

"If she just decides to throw everything out there without any kind sensitivity then she's not a legitimate news organization," responded Kua.

The cartoon also read, "As natives, we'll get to graze on both pastures, while the cows that stole our land will be limited to a shrinking supply of grass that the Office of Cow Affairs will keep purchasing from under their hoofs, by the authority of the Acowcow Bill."

"It is offensive. It is racist. It is a racial slur," Kua said.

"Everybody is really afraid to speak up and investigate or look into the Office of Hawaiian Affairs cause they're afraid they'll be labeled a racist," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman said Hawaii Reporter was not taking a position on the cartoon but the newspaper has challenged OHA in the past, trying to get information about how the state agency spends taxpayer money.

OHA officials said the cartoon was personal, not political.

Hawaii Reporter published a scathing letter it received from OHA's chair in response to the cartoon but the newspaper had no plans to take down the controversial piece.

Zimmerman, co-founded the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, which OHA officials said was against the so-called Akaka bill.

Zimmerman said the institute is a non-profit group that educates but has taken no position on the bill.

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