The corn, which had bacterial genes spliced into its DNA, produces insecticide to kill rootworms. It's not much different from Monsanto's bt corn, which is government-approved and sold in supermarkets across America. But Pioneer and Dow are creating their own strains of bt corn, and are using Hawai'i as a test bed.

The companies have always said they take extreme measures to prevent genetically modified corn pollen from escaping the confines of their research fields and contaminating the surroundings. But in a routine inspection visit to Moloka'i, the EPA found that Dow had failed to erect a barrier of junk corn and wiliwili trees to catch stray pollen.

And on Kaua'i, the agency discovered that Pioneer not only was planting its bt corn in a different place from that specified by the permit, but also had planted it near rows of other corn, in violation of a rule specifying a 1,260-foot distance from the nearest corn.

At first, both companies denied wrongdoing. Last week, both effectively pleaded "no contest," agreeing to pay a few thousand dollars in fines to settle the EPA complaints.

In a classy display of corporate ethics, Dow admitted it had erred, apologized for what it called a "significant administrative oversight" and promised to improve its procedures.

Pioneer officials reacted like they had talked to a few too many lawyers.

They said they had a different interpretation of their EPA permit. They disagreed with the government over terms like "distance from other crops," and "the proper location of plantings of genetically altered material."

"We have a very high degree of confidence that we complied with the letter and spirit of the regulation," Pioneer manager Richard McCormack said, even as his company paid the EPA $9,900 and agreed to months of comprehensive inspections of surrounding cornfields for possible contamination by genetically altered pollen.

This reaction is troubling. If Pioneer is convinced it's right, then why did it pay the fines and agree to the inconvenience of crop inspections?

Pioneer either paid a wrongfully levied fine to avoid the hassle of a courtroom fight — or it knows it got caught in a permit violation and is not being completely honest with the public by protesting innocence.

This is not the train of thoughts that Pioneer wants going through the heads of its neighbors on Kaua'i. Many members of the community were concerned after learning of the EPA's initial complaint. Their concerns are unlikely to be assuaged by Pioneer's explanation.

After all, if Pioneer is willing to quibble over details in its negotiations with the EPA, what's to stop the company from so behaving in its interactions with the people of Hawai'i?

Proponents of Hawai'i's agricultural biotechnology industry already have enough trouble convincing environmental activists, organic farmers and fearful consumers that genetic crop research is not only economically beneficial, but also safe, clean and under control.

Pioneer itself has acknowledged that the big farming corporations, which consider Hawai'i a prime research spot, need to do more to show people exactly what goes on in the research fields.

Refusal to admit error is the wrong way to start the public's education. If Pioneer officials had apologized, they could have portrayed themselves as flexible and willing to learn.

In quibbling about responsibility, the company merely provided ammunition for the many interest groups eager to convince Hawai'i residents that genetic research has no place in the state.