Kūpono Aguirre

Kūpono is from Waikapū, Maui, Hawaiʻi. His thesis is on seed dispersal of feral pigs in Hawaiian forests, focusing on the moku of Hilo. Animals are responsible for dispersing seeds from up to 90% of tree species in tropical rainforests. For his research, he will be collecting pig scat from various forests around Hilo and germinating it in a greenhouse. He will check on the samples weekly to identify the germinants and remove them from the media. His favorite part of his thesis experience is being able to do original research and explore questions that he is passionate about. The most challenging part has been applying for permits and getting through all the red tape of government agencies.