Spring 2026 graduates of the (GES) undergraduate program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa took with them a bachelor’s degree and real-world, hands-on experiences with research that benefits communities and ecosystems in Hawaiʻi and far beyond.
Through the GES program in the at the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (SOEST), students including Makana Andrade and Micah Soriano, engaged in original research, wrote a senior thesis and presented their findings at a research symposium.
“I congratulate all our spring graduates on successfully completing their required faculty-mentored thesis experience,” said Michael Guidry, chair of the GES Program. “As with all our GES graduates and their thesis work, Makana’s and Micah’s findings demonstrate how the research efforts of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa undergraduates provide new insights and solutions to important issues and train the next generation of problem solvers.”
Makana Andrade
Andrade was born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. During his second year of transfer to 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, he started working on his thesis with his mentor, Travis Idol, associate professor in the in the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa . His thesis focused on the response of Acacia koaia, a tree endemic to Hawaiʻi, to nursery practices done on similar species, specifically Acacia koa. Andrade’s study examined koaiʻa’s growth patterns from seed to seedling to determine its preferred soil type, nutrient uptake, and watering requirements, in an effort to ensure they are readily available for population revitalization.
After graduation, Andrade hopes to continue pursuing his passion for the conservation of Hawaiian endemic species and working in the wilderness.
Micah Soriano
As a GES student with a passion for chemistry, Soriano reached out to SOEST oceanography professor Nick Hawco and joined the Hawco Lab the summer after his sophomore year. Since then, Soriano has helped with various projects, gaining valuable experience. For his senior research thesis, Soriano explored how vitamin B12 availability in the Southern Ocean limits how effectively diatoms, a type of phytoplankton, can process and use essential metals for growth.
After graduation, he plans to work for a year or two before continuing his academic studies.
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