For decades, Liberty House served as isle retail's 'fat cats'

By Bob Sigall
Special to the Star-Advertiser

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 23, 2012

~~<p>Once the biggest of the Big Five, Liberty House was started by German sea captain Heinrich Hackfeld in 1849. Hackfeld first came to Hawaii with a ship's hold full of silk clothing, crockery, dry goods, hardware, pens, pencils, window glass and other household items. His wife, Marie, her 16-year-old brother, J.C. Pflueger, and a nephew, B.F. Ehlers, arrived with him.</p>
<p>He opened Hackfeld's Dry Goods on Queen Street. The public clamored for his wares. In 1850 he moved to a larger location on Fort Street. This store was so popular, it became known as "Hale Kilika" — the House of Silk. As business grew, the nephew took over management of the store while Hackfeld traveled the world for merchandise. The company took B.F. Ehlers' name in 1862.</p>
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Once the biggest of the Big Five, Liberty House was started by German sea captain Heinrich Hackfeld in 1849. Hackfeld first came to Hawaii with a ship's hold full of silk clothing, crockery, dry goods, hardware, pens, pencils, window glass and other household items. His wife, Marie, her 16-year-old brother, J.C. Pflueger, and a nephew, B.F. Ehlers, arrived with him.

He opened Hackfeld's Dry Goods on Queen Street. The public clamored for his wares. In 1850 he moved to a larger location on Fort Street. This store was so popular, it became known as "Hale Kilika" — the House of Silk. As business grew, the nephew took over management of the store while Hackfeld traveled the world for merchandise. The company took B.F. Ehlers' name in 1862. Login for more...