Focus On the Family Action, the lobbying wing of an influential Colorado-based Christian ministry, helped finance radio and newspaper advertisements against a civil-unions bill at the state Legislature.

The group spent $20,000 toward the ads, part of a larger $50,000 media campaign by religious conservatives that helped fuel demonstrations against civil unions at the state Capitol.

"They knew that we needed some help, especially with media," said Dennis Arakaki, interim executive director of the Hawaii Family Forum, which led opposition to the bill.

Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., is one of the nation's most active Christian ministries. Founder Dr. James Dobson, who stepped down from the group's board but still has a daily radio broadcast, is a powerful conservative voice in national politics.

Arakaki said the Hawaii Family Forum has an affiliation with Focus On the Family because the groups share similar positions on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

The ads against civil unions were an important organizing tool for religious conservatives, who mobilized after the bill quickly moved through the state House in February.

Arakaki estimated the media campaign cost $50,000.

The ads, combined with appeals by evangelical and Catholic churches, helped bring thousands of red-clad demonstrators to the Capitol for a rally the Sunday before the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee held a hearing on the bill in late February.

The large number of demonstrators at the rally, and the hundreds more who packed the state Capitol auditorium for the hearing, gave many senators pause. The committee deadlocked on the bill and an attempt to recall it from committee and bring it to the Senate floor failed last month.

The bill would give same-sex partners who enter into civil unions the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as married couples under state law.

Domestic partnerships, civil unions and same-sex marriages performed in other states would be recognized as civil unions in Hawai'i.

State Sen. Will Espero, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Waipahu), has proposed a new draft of the bill, one that would give same-sex partners expanded rights under state law but reaffirm marriage as between a man and a woman.

Senators are discussing Espero's amendment, and other potential alternatives, but key deadlines are approaching for bills to move before the session ends in early May.

Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay-rights group, based in Washington, D.C., reported about $2,500 in lobbying expenses in Hawai'i on civil unions during January and February.

Alan Spector, co-chairman of the Family Equality Coalition, which led the drive for civil unions, said his group raised money to cover expenses such as a poll by QMark Research.

Spector said local gay-rights advocates have also received a $20,000 grant from the Gill Foundation, a Denver-based group that promotes equal rights. He said advocates have yet to spend any of the grant money.

The Gill Foundation was founded by Tim Gill, a software entrepreneur who is gay, after battles over a ballot initiative in Colorado that denied gays equal rights.