User:KAVEBEAR/Isaac Young Davis

Isaac Young Davis (1824–1882) was a Hawaiian high chief, being the hapa-haole grandson of Isaac Davis, the Welsh advisor of Kamehameha I, who helped him unify the island in 1810. He was the second husband of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.

Life
He was born in 1824, in the district of Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. His parents were George Hūʻeu Davis (1800–1873) and Kahaanapilo Papa (1800–1858). His father was the son of High Chiefess Kalukuna and Isaac Davis (1758–1810), a Welshman from Milford Haven, known as Aikake by the Hawaiians, who along with John Young was one of King Kamehameha I's advisors and companion-in-arms. His grandfather had helped Kamehameha conquered most of the islands and negotiated the submission of Kaumualii. Through his mother and paternal grandmother, he was a relative of the House of Kamehameha. From his mother Kahaanapilo Papa, he was descended from the Waimea line of chiefs. His maternal grandfather Papa was the grandson of High Chief Heulu, descendant of Kumalae, the younget son of ʻUmi-a-Liloa, the ancestor of Kamehameha I. One of nineteen children, he had fifteen full-blood siblings and four half-siblings from his father's second marriage to Kalapuna. Davis was considered a hapa-haole or half-white even though he had three-quarters native Hawaiian ancestry. He had little contact with his patrilineal heritage and grew up speaking very limited amount of English.

Davis served as luna (supervisor) of governmental cattle on Keoni Ana's ranch in Waimea.

His first wife was a woman named Maolioli, who was born in 1826. They had a daughter, who died in 1861.

In June 2, 1856, he married his second wife, Ruth Keʻelikōlani (1826–1883), daughter of Mataio Kekūanaōʻa and Pauahi (therefore the half-sisters of Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V). They were second cousin twice removed, both being descendant from High Chief Heulu.

They divorced on May 20, 1868.

In August 18, 1865, he married his former mistress Louisa Kolohu Spencer at Honolulu. Her name was often spelled Kaolohu or Kaholapua.

Standing at 6 ft 2 in, he was considered rather handsome by many including foreign visitors such as Lady Franklin and her niece Sophia Cracroft. Their marriage was an unhappy one, and they divorced in 1868. The early loss of their son did not help.

Keolaokalani Davis, son of Isaac Young Davis was born in February 1862 and hānai (adopted) against his father's wishes to Bernice Pauahi Bishop. He died in August 29, 1863, aged 6 months.

Davis and Lot Kapuāiwa, his wife's half-brother and the later Kamehameha V, objected to Keelikōlani's decision to give the child away.