Prior to the National Defense Act of 1961, which Authorizes the U.S. Army to establish Junior ROTC units in high Schools, Both Kamehameha and Punahou High school had military activities on their campuses. Kamehameha established the first JROTC unit in Hawaii, followed in by Punahou in 1918. The first public unit was established at McKinley High School in 1921. The unit at Roosevelt High School followed in 1935.

        The Second World War caused an interruption of JROTC activities from 1941-1945. The units at Farrington & Leilehua were established in 1946, followed by Saint Louis in 1949.

In 1949, the JROTC Vitalization Act authorized other military services to start JROTC programs, requiring the hiring of retired military personnel at the high school units. In 1943, females were allowed to enroll in the JROTC programs.

        A JROTC program expansion to other public schools in Hawaii were blocked due to the DEO moratorium on expansion in 1966. From 1966-1979, many attempts were made to terminate the moratorium. Finally, in January 1982, Kailua High started an Air Force program, Radford high established a Navy program & Waianae started an Army JROTC. The first outer island unit was established on the island of Hawaii at Konawaena High in 1985. In the 1990’s, the following JROTC programs were established; 92-Nanakuli, Kaimuki, Kilo, Moanalua & Baldwin, 93- Kahuku Kaiser, Aiea & Campbell, 99- Kealakehe. Then we saw the establishment of Waiakea in 2001, Waipahu in 2005, and Mililani in 2010