Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Isenberg, Paul April 15, 1837 - January 16, 1903
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J. Orr orr@hawaii.com September 9, 2009, 3:55 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

PAUL ISENBERG, Industrial Builder. A builder of the sugar industry on the 
Island of Kauai, through his extensive development of Lihue and Koloa 
plantations, for many years a principal partner in the big Honolulu firm of H. 
Hackfeld & Co., Ltd., a close friend and adviser of Hawaiian royalty and an 
active participant in government affairs under the monarchy, the late Paul 
Isenberg had a remarkable career in Hawaii and exercised an influence which 
will long be felt.
  He was born in Dransfeld, Germany, April 15, 1837, the son of Daniel and 
Dorothea (Strauch) Isenberg. His father was a highly educated clergyman of the 
Lutheran church, and an indefatigable worker. Paul early in life displayed the 
traits of character which account for his later success in life. It is told of 
him that he broke his arm while ringing the church bell. His father learned of 
the injury in Sunday School when he found that the lad could not move his arm, 
but Paul had voiced no complaint. This power of endurance was characteristic 
all during his life.
  Paul had a good schooling and was then for four years on an estate where he 
had to work from early morning until late at night. It was a hard life but the 
farm was well managed and he learned much that was of value to him later in 
his career. The third year, bookkeeping was taught to the apprentices in the 
evening and when the child nodded with sleep he was told “sleep does not bring 
in anything; it is only a necessary evil, to be lightly indulged in.” Paul was 
later advanced to a better position on a neglected farm, where he made a fine 
record.
  A Mr. Hoffschlaeger of Hanover was seeking a young man to send to Hawaii. 
Paul was eager to go and his father bought him off from military service, a 
transaction then possible, and the youth came to Honolulu via Cape Horn and 
Valparasio on the bark “Harburg,” a voyage of 183 days.
  Paul Isenberg was sent to Kauai and first worked at Wailua, under Judge 
Duncan McBryde, and then went to Lihue as an overseer. The Rev. W. H. Rice 
had, on account of failing health, left the Mission and taken the management 
of Lihue, a plantation then producing less than 200 tons of sugar a year. Mr. 
Rice had made the first ditch on Lihue, with a tunnel to bring water for 
irrigation purposes from one of the valleys, but he was in failing health.
  Here was an opportunity to work and Paul Isenberg began to develop the 
plantation, becoming its manager in May, 1862, following Mr. Rice’s death. He 
had married the eldest daughter of Mr. Rice, Hannah Maria, in Oct. 1861. Two 
children were born, Dora and Paul, at that time the only white children in 
Lihue. Mrs. Isenberg died in 1867, and in 1869 Mr. Isenberg went to Germany, 
where he married Miss Beta Glade. Of this union there were six children, J. 
Carl, H. Alexander, Julie, Clara, Richard and Paula.
  As soon as Mr. Isenberg began to earn, he began to save, and repaid his 
father all that had been expended in his behalf. This habit of saving was the 
basis of his later fortune.
  Mr. Isenberg returned to Lihue from Germany in 1869 and from then on the 
plantation developed rapidly. He bought the Hanamaulu lands, which run up to 
Waialeale, the highest mountain on the Island of Kauai, and when some of the 
owners of the plantation demurred he said he would take over the lands for his 
personal account if the investment did not prove successful. Needless to say, 
these lands made the present great plantation possible, for Lihue then was but 
a small estate. Several water leads of 30 miles in length were made, and Mr. 
Isenberg called in Mr. A. S. Wilcox as planter for Hanamaulu.
  In the 70’s, Mr. Isenberg acquired an interest in Koloa Plantation and for a 
time he managed it in addition to directing the affairs of Lihue. He retired 
as manager of Lihue Plantation in 1878.
  Mr. Isenberg was one of the most consistent friends of the Hawaiians, and 
showed his friendship on many occasions. He is remembered kindly by natives, 
with whom he came in contact almost as soon as he came to the Islands, and his 
relations, both in business and politics, were always of a nature which 
resulted in the betterment of conditions. He was known as a friend of good 
government, and his efforts were largely successful in preventing trouble over 
the proposed constitution in 1887. He was recognized as a friend of the throne 
by King Lunalilo, and was commissioned as a Noble, representing the Island of 
Kauai in the Legislature, by King Kalakaua. For his work in the Legislature he 
was decorated with the Order of Kamehameha.
  In 1881, Captain Hackfeld of the firm of H. Hackfeld & Co., invited Mr. 
Isenberg to join him on a basis of full half partnership. From that time on 
Mr. Isenberg was a factor in the development of the Hackfeld business, which 
became one of the largest in Hawaii. Although he had removed to Germany with 
his family in 1878, he spent six months, or more, every second year in Hawaii 
and never failed to attend the legislative assemblies.
  Mr. Isenberg desired that the younger men in the Hackfeld firm should 
acquire interests in it and become directors. This rapid promotion of worthy 
assistants was a settled policy and produced splendid results, both for the 
firm and its executives, many of whom became wealthy because of their 
admission to partnerships.
  Paul Isenberg died Jan. 16, 1903, in Bremen, Germany. His motto in his life 
and business was “Live and let live,” and his kindness, love of justice in 
every phase of life, integrity of character and generosity will long be 
remembered. 


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