What is JCI?
Junior Chamber International (JCI), formerly known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce started off as a small group of young men who wanted more in their lives. They wanted the opportunity to develop themselves as well as be involved in building up their community. Founder Henry Giessenbier Jr. formed the Herculaneum Dance Club in St. Louis Missouri in 1915. Soon his group would then be known as the The Young Men’s Civic Progressive Association and soon after becoming affiliated with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, the organization would be recognized as the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce. After a couple of decades, chapters of Junior Chambers would spread throughout the US. It was a growing movement in the US which soon became an international movement. In 1944, the Junior Chamber officially became an international organization when members of chapters from the US, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama met in an Inter-America Congress.
Decades would pass and members would be known as JCs or Jaycees. What began as a local movement in a city in Missouri, spread throughout the US, the Americas, and now chapters exist in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
JCI seeks to provide opportunities for young people by encouraging them to become young active citizens. JCI is the largest network of young people, connecting like minded individuals ages 18-40 throughout the world.
Visit jci.cc to learn more about the international organization.
Visit jciusa.org to learn more about the US organization.
What is JCI Hawaii?
JCI Hawaii is the governing state organization for local Hawaii chapters of JCI. The state serves as a liaison between the local chapters and the national organization, JCI USA. Members of the Hawaii Kai Jaycees are members under JCI Hawaii and JCI USA, and of course members are a part of the international JCI network.
The first chapter created in Hawaii was the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce, which existed during Hawaii’s pre-statehood days. The Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce, as well as chapters in Hilo, Maui, and Wahiawa were the founding chapters of JCI Hawaii, which was then known as the Hawaii Junior Chamber of Commerce. The state organization was founded in 1943. During the its height, there were over 40 Jaycee chapters in Hawaii. Below is a list of current chapters.
Hawaii Kai Jaycees (HKJC)
Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC)
Honolulu Chinese Jaycees (HCJ)
JCI Hawaii Filipino Jaycees (FJC)
Kapolei Junior Chamber (KJC)
JCI Rising Phoenix Jaycees (RPJ)
Asian American Junior Chamber (AAJC)
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