In 1849, German immigrant Heinrich Hackfeld formed a dry goods store called Hackfeld's Dry Goods in
Honolulu. Hackfeld later became the business agent for
Kōloa Plantation on the island of
Kauai.
Paul Isenberg became a partner in 1881. In 1898, the Hackfeld and Isenberg family interests in Hawaii were officially reorganized as H. Hackfeld & Co. During
World War I, H. Hackfeld & Co. was seized by the U.S. government
Alien Property Custodian. It was later sold to a consortium of Hawaii businessmen in 1918, who changed the name to "American Factors". In 1966, the name was further shortened to "Amfac". Henry Alexander Walker became president in 1933. The family estate in
Nuuanu Valley, known as the
H. Alexander Walker Residence, was developed into a showcase orchid garden. From 1968 to 1972, under president Henry Alexander Walker Jr., Amfac acquired 42 companies. These included the
Fred Harvey Company, which had grown to fame operating
Harvey House restaurants along railroad lines starting in 1876. Expanding its holdings on Kaua'i, in 1975 Amfac acquired the
Kekaha Sugar Company.
Gulf+Western Industries owned a 25% stake in the company, which was sold in 1983.
California businesses in the 1970s As of the 1970s, Amfac ran a variety of hospitality, retail, financial and other businesses in
California, among other states. California was its second state after Hawaii. It operated: • 13
Joseph Magnin specialty department stores across
Southern California. • The restaurants at the
Los Angeles Music Center. • The
Airport Marina Hotel, operated by
Fred Harvey. •
Fred Harvey's
Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch in
Death Valley (now the Inn at Death Valley). • The Victor Hugo Inn in
Laguna Beach. • The Tejon Ranch House in
Lebec. • The Ranch House Inn in
Valencia. •
Fred Harvey-operated food and beverage and in-flight dining services at
Ontario Airport and
Palm Springs International Airport. • Amfac Mortgage, providing real estate financing services from six offices. • Amfac Properties and Amfac Communities, offering real estate development and management services including Canyon Sands in
Palm Springs, California. • Amfac Drug Supply, distributing pharmaceuticals to hospitals and pharmacies from six branches. • Amfac Electric Supply, distributing materials to contractors and builders from a dozen branches.
1980s–2000s In 1987, Ronald Sloan was removed as chief executive and president and was replaced by Richard Griffith (Henry Walker Jr. was still chairman of the board). The company announced it was selling its non-Hawaii business units. Amfac was bought by
Chicago-based
JMB Realty in 1988 for $920 million. As the sugar industry in Hawaii declined after statehood, so did the fortunes of Amfac. The company's assets were gradually sold off or closed. Oahu Sugar in
Waipahu was closed in 1995.
Liberty House went into bankruptcy in 1998 (it was later acquired by
Federated Department Stores and now carries the
Macy's brand name). The Pioneer Mill in
Lahaina closed in 1999, and the
Kekaha Sugar Mill and
Lihue Plantation closed in 2000.
Steve Case acquired the Lihue plantation in 2001. Amfac Hawaii went into
Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002. Amfac Parks & Resorts was retained by
JMB and was renamed
Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Amfac Hawaii was reorganized as Kaanapali Land, LLC and the bankruptcy closed in 2005. Some of the former plantation land uphill from the resort has been subdivided into a development called Kāʻanapali Coffee Farms. ==See also==