Dr. John Wesley Gilmore, President of the College of Hawaii (now University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), helped align the institution with national service goals. Under his leadership, the college expanded programs in agriculture and food science in support of the Territorial Food Commission. Students and faculty were encouraged to participate in home gardening, food preservation, and public demonstrations to promote self-sufficiency. Gilmore also supported the military training of students, helping turn the college into both an educational and patriotic training ground during the war.
