Hackfeld Gate

Johann Friedrich Hackfeld born December 26th 1856 in Ganderkeesee, Northern Germany, was Heinrich Hackfeld’s nephew and held various leadership positions at Hackfeld & Co. He was the son of a tailor and completed his business training in Germany at Chr. Papendiek & Co. After Heinrich Hackfeld returned to Bremen from Honolulu in 1871 and Johann took over as part owner in Hawaii the nephew also took part-ownership of his uncles new business in Bremen.

When Paul Isenberg (1837-1903), general manager at Hackfeld & Co passed away, Johann was promoted to take over the company’s leadership. Johann Hackfeld also held the position of German Consul to Hawaii for the German Empire, as well as Consul for Austria and Sweden.

After J. Hackfeld’s return to Bremen the Hackfeld empire was “confiscated “ in 1917 as the United States entered World War 1 and Germany had officially become an enemy of the people of Hawaii. Like his uncle, Johann Hackfeld did not return to Hawaii and passed away August 27th 1932 in Bremen. During his time in Bremen he financed various benevolent projects, among them the YMCA building in Bremen, that still operates to this day under the name “Konsul Hackfeld Haus”. He and the widows of Heinrich Hackfeld and Paul Isenberg donated most of their wealth to the City of Bremen.