Hinrich Hackfeld was a captain, Protestant and from northern Germany. He only communicated
when he had to, as much as was absolutely necessary, and only with those it concerned. Discretion
was a characteristic of Hackfeld and his company. Just as on the ship, so in business and in life, it was
clear who had which tasks, who led and was allowed to delegate, and who worked and executed.
Hackfeld was neither dogmatic nor ignorant. He knew how to treat employees and customers in
order to gain and maintain their trust. He was quick on the uptake, quickly identified opportunities,
and adapted himself and his actions accordingly.
Hinrich Hackfeld, also known as Heinrich or Henrich, was born on 24 August 1816 in Alsmloh, not far
from Bremen, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, the son of a farmer. When he was 16 years old, his
journeys by sea began. He first travelled in the Mediterranean, the trips became longer and led to
the North American coast, then to South America, and finally also to the Pacific and Honolulu. He
managed a ship, the Express, transported cargo, and bought and sold freight. Hackfeld recognised
the strategic value of the islands between America on the one hand, and Australia and Asia on the
other, and decided to establish a business there. He bought a ship, the Wilhelmine, and filled her
with everything that could not spoil: clothing and fabrics, kitchen utensils, stationery, knives, bird
cages, combs, port wine, etc. He travelled to Honolulu with his wife Marie and two assistants, B.F.
Ehlers and J.C. Pflüger. There he did what he knew how to do and what he was familiar with. He first
sold his own goods, then, as a commission agent, those of other ships that were landing. For this
purpose, he founded the company H. Hackfeld.
Within a few years, Hackfeld and his assistants diversified and systematised the business. Practically
everything needed in Honolulu and beyond had to be imported, and Hackfeld took care of it. Masts
and planks for ships, shafts for carriages; lumber came from Puget Sound, doors and windows from
San Francisco, Chinese fabrics, silk and tea from Hong Kong, brandy, absinthe and 30,000 cigars from
Sydney. Ships from Bremen regularly brought the latest European fashions. Local products were also
sold: sugar, molasses and syrup from Maui, coffee from Kona, butter from Kauai, and beef from the
numerous farms on the islands. Hackfeld and his employees offered a range of products to appeal to
a wide variety of customer groups: whalers, who repaired their ships and stocked up on supplies in
Hawaii, gold prospectors in California, who constantly needed new equipment, and not least the
growing city of Honolulu, its craftsmen and well-to-do residents.
In 1855, Hackfeld and his wife left Hawaii for almost two years. J.C. Pflüger, a partner in H. Hackfeld
& Co. since 1853, continued to manage and develop the business. In 1862, Hackfeld went back to
Germany for good. He did not retire. But at the end of his forties, he knew when it was time to step
down and leave the work to others.
Decisions regarding H. Hackfeld & Co. were made locally in Honolulu. Due to the lengthy
communication between Honolulu and Bremen, the directors of the company had a great deal of
freedom of action. Hackfeld himself still had influence over the strategic direction, which was
discussed during the regular visits of the managers to Germany, and over the selection and
development of personnel in Honolulu. He chose the management staff, and time and again he sent
good employees who had already proven themselves in the Bremen company to Honolulu.
Heinrich Hackfeld died on 20 October 1887 in Bremen.