At the same time, Hawai'i's important native and endangered plant species have not been impacted negatively by the biotech crops grown here. In fact, biotech has been credited with saving the papaya industry in our state, after papaya ring spot virus decreased production by nearly 40 percent and threatened to destroy the industry.

I rest my case.

SIGN-WAVING

CAMPAIGN SEASON BRINGS OUT THE WORST

As we approach another campaign season, I've already noticed candidates out on our streets sign-waving to the motorists.

I dread this time of the year, mainly because many of us have to endure the thousands of campaign signs that pop up on private property. This should be outlawed. It's polluting our environment. Why is this not banned, similar to billboards?

Private businesses are prohibited from posting signs in people's front yard; how does this differ? I guess it's these elected officials who make the law convenient for them.

Also, we should regulate these sign-wavers on our streets. We already have enough distracted motorists, especially when it gets closer to election day when there are hundreds of supporters lining the streets. We're looking at a major accident that may result in many injuries or death.

TEACHER PAY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS FACE FAR MORE PROBLEMS

In response to Jonathan Hunter's June 26 letter: Teacher's pay is only the tip of the iceberg on the problems faced by public schools.

There are countless headaches caused by the No Child Left Behind requirements and other endemic problems of the public-school system, such as substandard facilities and violations of the teachers' contract.

Private schools usually have the option of getting rid of problematic students, which is not the case in public schools. A public-school teacher must deal with many more requirements and potential problems than most private-school teachers.

The adage of "We don't get paid enough for this" always comes up. So, Mr. Jonathan Hunter, why don't you try working in the public-school system for a while and see if you can maintain the same attitude as your letter?

CONTROLS

HOMELESS SITUATION CRIES FOR SOVEREIGNTY

I would like to inform Jude Waterman (Letters, "Statehood," June 28) and Stephen Aghjayan ("Secession," June 28) on the political status of Hawai'i vis-a-vis the U.S.

On Nov. 23, 1993, President Clinton signed U.S. Public Law 103-150, admitting the role of the United States in the illegal overthrow of the kingdom of Hawai'i and that Hawai'i never gave up its sovereignty. Hawai'i is therefore illegally gotten gains or "stolen goods." How long must one keep stolen goods in one's possession before one has legal ownership?

The current housing/homeless situation in Hawai'i where gated communities and large, luxurious houses are being built on prime land for people not here while thousands of Hawai'i people are priced out of the market cries for restoration of sovereignty and land and immigrant control.

As David Malo wrote in 1837 regarding the fate of the Hawaiian people, "If a big wave comes in, large and unfamiliar fishes will come in from the dark ocean, and when they see the small fishes from the shallows, they will eat them up."

RAIL SYSTEM

GRAFFITI IN THE MAKING

The computer simulations of the proposed rail system in the June 23 paper were fascinating, but the computer forgot to put graffiti on the posts of the rail structures. Those white pillars are just asking to be tagged. I hope the city has enough paint to cover it up.