"Look around. With all due respect you cannot deny the will of the people forever," began Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff.

And this time, senators did not.

"We received thousands and thousands of emails for me and my colleagues," said Sen. Josh Green, chair of the Senate health committee.

For the first time, senators held a hearing on a bill to label genetically modified foods.

Well over 100 testifiers came out to say their peace.

"I'm not here opposed to science, I'm here opposed to emotion on this issue," said one opponent of the bill.

"The problem with this labeling thing is it creates fear," said an Oahu papaya farmer.

"While there are problems with this bill as written, the job of this body is to fix these problems, so that the people of Hawaii can get what they're asking for," said the University of Hawaii law student Christiaan Mitchell.

"I'm glad you had the hearing. I really am," said another testifier.

GMO seed companies and employees were well represented at the hearing, who said they are often targeted for their work.