Isaac Davis (Hawaii)
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Isaac Davis (c.1758 – 1810) was a Welsh Royal Advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He was found tied to a canoe, half blind and half dead. He along with a John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha. He brought western military knowledge to Hawaii and played a big role during Hawaii's first contacts with the Europeans powers. He spent the rest of his life in Hawai'i. Davis gave his life for to accomplished the unification of Hawaii.
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[edit] Early life
Isaac Davis was born about 1758 in Milford Haven, Pembroke, Wales.[1] Davis was given the Hawaiian name ʻAikake and eventually becomes a high chief, marries a relative of King Kamehameha I, becomes Governor of O'ahu, and owns estates on O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, and the Big Island.
[edit] The Olowalu Massacre
In 1790, the Eleanora was under the Captain Simon Metcalfe, when one of his skiffs is stolen by the chief Ka‘ōpūiki. He punished the Hawaiians severely, killing more than 100 Hawaiians. Metcalfe also once punishes Kame'eiamoku, a high chief, and one of the sacred pio twins, by whipping him. The humiliated Kame‘eiamoku sworn vengeance on the next ship to arrive. He attacked The Fair American, which was under the command of Metcalfe’s 18-year-old son, Thomas. Thomas and all of the Fair American’s crew are killed, except for Isaac Davis, who was tied to a canoe and left half blind and nearly dead. It is said that Davis's life was spared because of his brave fighting. Simon Metcalfe leaves his boatswain, John Young, onshore and sails away from the Hawaiian Islands without even knowing if his son has been killed. The Fair American is then taken over by Kamehameha. He was nursed back to health by an American beachcomber named Isaac Ridler. Like his friend Young, Davis was made a high chief and assisted Kamehameha l in his dealings with foreigners and in wars of conquest.[2]
[edit] Family
He married Kalakuna, a relative of Kamehameha, in Honolulu, Hawaii and founded a prominent family in the islands. They had the two children. His son George Hueu Davis was born on 10 Jan 1800. Elizabeth "Betty" Peke Davis was born on 12 Feb 1803. His son married Kahaanapilo Papa and had three sons among them was Isaac Young Davis who was the second husband of Princess Ruth Keelikolani. His daughter Betty married George P. Kaumualii better known as Humehume, the son of King Kaumualii of Kauai.
[edit] Death
When Kaumualii agree to cede Kauai to Kamehameha and become a vassal ruler, the chiefs became angry. A secret plan was made to kill the Kauaian king, while he was on Oahu. Isacc Davis, learning of the plot, warned Kaumualii. Not waiting to attend the feast which was planned in his honor, he slipped away and sailed for Kauai. It is said the poison which was designed for Kaumualii was given to Isaac Davis. Davis suddenly died. He was buried in Honolulu. On his tombstone was placed the inscription:[3]
"The remains of
Isaac Davis
who died on this Island
April, 1810
Aged 52 years "
Isaac Davis had been one of Kamehameha's closest friends, and advisor. His death was a great shock to Kamehameha and cast a dark shadow over the satisfaction which the King must have felt with the settlement of the Kauai.
[edit] References
- ^ Hawaiian Genealogy of Kekoolani and Other Familes - pafg18 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File
- ^ Hawaiian Encyclopedia : Part 1: Complete Timeline of Hawaiian History
- ^ http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/hi/keepers/koc27.txt
