NEW YORK — A reference guide to the imaginary world of Harry Potter says one of the magic spells in the books is based on the Hawaiian word aloha.

However, J.K. Rowling, author of the popular fantasy series, testified in a lawsuit that the made-up word is based on an African language.

Steven Vander Ark, 50, was called to the stand yesterday in Manhattan federal court by a lawyer for Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment. They claim that his reference book, "Harry Potter Lexicon," infringes on Rowling's copyrights on her seven best-selling books.

His guide says "Alohomora," a spell that causes objects to fly, stems from the Hawaiian word "aloha." Rowling testified yesterday that she derived it from a west African dialect.

Vander Ark, who also runs a Harry Potter fan site, wept openly when asked what the case has done to his relationship with Harry Potter fans.

"It's been ... it's been," he stammered, choking on his words, "it's been difficult because there has been a lot of criticism, obviously, and that was never the intention. ... This has been an important part of my life for the last nine years or so."

He said his only goal had been to celebrate Rowling, who he called a "genius."

ALICIA KEYS SAYS NO CONSPIRACY

NEW YORK — Alicia Keys says she's not a conspiracy theorist.

Keys issued a statement yesterday to clarify comments in a Blender magazine interview that she said were "misrepresented."

According to the magazine's May issue, Keys said: " 'Gang-sta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other." She also is quoted as saying she wears a gold AK-47 pendant "to symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead."

"My comments about 'gangsta rap' were in no way trying to suggest that the government is responsible for creating this genre of rap music," Keys said. "The point that I was trying to make was that the term was oversloganized by some of the media, causing reactions that were not always positive. Many of the 'gangsta rap' lyrics articulate the problems of the artists' experiences — and I think all of us, including our leaders, could be doing more to address these problems, including drugs, gang violence, crime and other related social issues."

Keys also said that AK-47 is her nickname, "as an acronym for Alicia Keys and a metaphor for wowing people with my music and performances, 'killing 'em dead' on stage."

"We stand by our story," Blender spokeswoman Kate Cafaro said yesterday.

NANNY SAYS LOWE WAS OUT OF LINE

LOS ANGELES — One of three former employees being sued by Rob Lowe says in legal papers filed Monday that the actor touched her inappropriately several times between September 2005 and January 2008. Jessica Gibson said she continued to work for Lowe and his wife because she loved their two boys and needed the job. She worked for the couple on and off for seven years until quitting Feb. 24.

Lowe, 44 — a former star of "The West Wing" and now on ABC's "Brothers and Sisters" — not only absolutely denies her allegations, he last week filed suit against Gibson, saying she tried to extort $1.5 million from him in return for not publicly making an abuse claim.