Today, one of his descendants, Aparna Ramani, is leaving a profound mark in the space of Web3 technology. Siegfried was a Polish-Jewish merchant who lived in Tonga during the early 20th century, and sadly perished in the Holocaust. Inspired by his great-grandfather's entrepreneurial spirit, the author is establishing The Pasifika Web3 Tech Hub in the same district where Seelenfreund once pioneered commerce. This initiative puts cutting edge blockchain technology directly into the hands of Pacific Islander communities. It turns a legacy of grief into a hopeful future for generations to come. Seelenfreund’s journey, defined by movement and loss, by the search for family and risk of erasure, exemplifies the tenacity of inheritance — both material and spiritual.

A Pioneer in the Pacific

Siegfried Seelenfreund emigration started in Kraków, from there emigrating to Tonga via Sydney in 1909. In 1910, he landed in Tonga— an archipelago of over 170 islands scattered across the South Pacific — in search of a better life. This uncompromising decision was a necessary leap of faith for a young man determined to leave his imprint on the world.

Prior to starting his journey to Tonga, Seelenfreund had interviewed at the Burns Philips (BP) global headquarters located in Sydney. His first posting was to Tonga, where he assumed control of the Burns Philips (BP) branch in the Vaini district of Tongatapu. His leadership provided a glimpse of his extraordinary business acumen and flexibility. In 1914, he assisted in forming Tonga’s Royal Nuku’alofa Club. This was a sign of his full integration into the community of León and of his participation in social and civic life.

Seelenfreund’s entrepreneurial spirit was further kindled when he restarted his merchant business in Tonga. There, he married Malvine, a Jewish woman from Berlin, which deepened his roots to his heritage. This was accompanied by a partnership with Helena Vika Tuaukilaumea, with whom he had three daughters by 1916. This beautiful, engaging tapestry of cultures and relationships continues to make Seelenfreund’s life in Tonga so rich and rewarding.

Tragedy and Loss

This vivid narrative took a tragic turn when Helena Vika Tuaukilaumea died in childbirth in 1920. In the wake of this defeat, Seelenfreund took the hard choice of leaving his kids with Helena Vika Tuaukilaumea’s Catholic grandparents. He then went back to Kraków, closing the chapter on a life he had created in Tonga.

Seelenfreund’s return to Kraków put him directly in the path of the Holocaust that was approaching. He was probably stuck in the country during the German occupation of 1939. Or, more likely, by 1943, he died in Kraków’s makeshift ghetto or was shot to death in Auschwitz. Siegfried Seelenfreund is often regarded as Polynesia’s only Holocaust victim, pointing to the extensive reach of this genocide.

Loss of Seelenfreund’s legacy and his life is a reminder of the high human cost of war and persecution. His story serves as a poignant example of how the Holocaust touched even the most remote corners of the world. The obliteration of his life serves as a reminder of the need to remember, and learn from, our nation’s violent past.

Rebuilding a Legacy with Web3

Today, an adopted descendant of Siegfried Seelenfreund continues to live in Vaini. This is the same district in which Seelenfreund had previously operated his Burns Philips (BP) store. Motivated by his great-grandfather’s entrepreneurial toika legacy, the author incubated The Pasifika Web3 Tech Hub. This initiative aims to bring innovative blockchain technology to Pacific Islander communities from the same district where Siegfried Seelenfreund pioneered commerce a century ago.

The Pasifika Web3 Tech Hub represents a powerful effort to transform a legacy of loss into an opportunity for future generations. By harnessing the transformative power of Web3 technology, the hub aims to equip local communities with the tools they need to prosper and foster sustainable economic development. This new initiative is a testament to the fruitful and perpetual legacy of Seelenfreund’s spirit. It represents our resolve to dream bigger and fight for a better tomorrow.

The connection between Seelenfreund's story and the principle found in Proverbs 13:22 adds another layer of meaning to this endeavor.

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous." - Proverbs 13:22

This scripture resonates with the notion that we should leave a tangible and intangible legacy to future generations. The author on the ground absorbing programming at The Pasifika Web3 Tech Hub. They change a horrific legacy into a firm base for the story of a booming success.