Dr. J. M. Westgate, an agronomist and Director of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, was a key advisor to the Territorial Food Commission during the war. He promoted the cultivation of local staples like taro, sweet potatoes, and legumes to increase food independence in Hawaii. Through public lectures and printed bulletins, Westgate shared practical agricultural techniques that home gardeners and plantation managers could use to boost production. His science-based approach helped Hawaiians grow more food with limited resources and labor.
