His middle name honored his two-time great-grandfather John Harbottle (1781–1830), a British naval officer, who was one of the first foreign residents in Hawaii and Kamehameha I's port pilot.

Harbottle's wife, High Chiefess Papapaunauapu, was the adoptive granddaughter of Kamehameha I. Boyd's maternal grandfather, Alexander Adams, of Scottish descent, was another well-known foreign advisor of the King and has been credited by some historians as the designer of the flag of Hawaii.

[4][5][6] The Boyds were considered among the most prominent families of Hawaii, and their residence in Maunawili was often frequented by Hawaiian royalty, visiting foreign dignitaries, and world-famous writers and artists.

Boyd's father made his fortune as a merchant and cattle rancher and served many political posts in the Kingdom's legislature, so it was understandable that James would follow in his footsteps.

In London, James was reunited with his younger brother Robert Napuʻuako, who had been studying in the Italian Royal Naval Academy for seven years under Kalākaua education programs for Hawaiian youths.

In the meanwhile, the royal party was to continue their tour in Europe, but their mission was cut short by the unrest back in Hawaii, where King Kalākaua was forced to sign Bayonet Constitution.

[14] According to legend, the famous song Aloha ʻOe was inspired by a visit by the then-Princess Liliʻuokalani to Maunawili in 1877, as part of her tour of the island of Oahu in her first act as the newly appointed heir-apparent.

[17][18] Boyd is also credited as the conveyer of the first written version of the legend of Kapaemahu, which was recorded by Thomas Thrum, published in the Hawaiian Almanac and Annual of 1907,[19] and subsequently turned into an animated film.

The Boyd's house dating from the 1860s still stands and is called The Queen's Retreat (Boyd/Irwin Estate), but has suffered major vandalism in recent years due to inefficient surveillance.

Efforts have been made to save and restore the historic site due its importance in Hawaiian history, as the alleged place where Queen Liliuokalani composed her immortal song Aloha ʻOe.