The Hawai'i NAACP will host a public forum tomorrow in response to racial slurs made by television bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman.

Alphonso Braggs, president of the Hawai'i chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the forum will be an opportunity for healing following the incident. He also stressed that it will be an opportunity to address "the impact that this kind of behavior has."

Local civil rights activists, social and fraternal organizations and other community leaders are expected to be in attendance. Members of the public are also encouraged to attend.

"This was such profound hatred and it reminds us of the systemic and subtle racism present in our community," Braggs said.

The forum will be an opportunity to discuss the various impacts of the incident and ways to move past it, he said.

Participants will examine such topics as the causes and consequences of inappropriate language and behavior; subtle racism and accountability; media influences and profiling; and moving forward.

Chapman, star of A&E's hit reality series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," apologized Wednesday after The National Enquirer posted on its Web site a five-minute audio clip of a conversation between Chapman and his son. During the conversation, Chapman repeatedly used the n-word.

A&E has suspended production of the series and removed it from its television schedule.

Braggs said children and teens suffer the most from these types of incidents.

"It cheapens the hopes and dreams of our young people who look up to these individuals," he said.

Braggs said although Chapman has apologized for his comments, he said the severity and damage of them have to be addressed.

He noted that Chapman's written apology gave an explanation for the use of the racial slur. Braggs said he was offended that Chapman would try to rationalize his use of the word.

"It is absolutely unacceptable. There should never be a day when we find that a reference to an individual of that magnitude should be used," he said.

Braggs said if he were asked by Chapman to sit down and discuss the matter, he would accept the opportunity.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.