In 1877, Boyd served as captain on the staff of the governor of Oahu, John Owen Dominis.
He was elevated to colonel on the King's staff in 1880.
During this period of service he became better acquainted with Princess Liliʻuokalani, the governor's wife.
Boyd was quite popular and gained the confidence of the Hawaiian royal family.
During the coronation of King Kalākaua in 1883, he was trusted with the position of bearer of the royal crowns.
He also served as Marriage License Agent in 1880, Private Ways and Water Rights in 1882, Captain Co. C, Prince's Own in 1885, and the King's Special Commissioner in 1886.

On September 20, 1886, Boyd took possession of Ocean Island, later renamed Kure Atoll, for the Hawaiian crown as King Kalākaua's special commissioner.
Kalākaua had done this in response to frequent shipwrecks along the surrounding reefs, including the notorious 1870 wreck of the USS Saginaw.
He ordered that a crude house be built on the island, with tanks for holding water and provisions for any other unfortunates who might be cast away there.
But the provisions were stolen within a year, and the house soon fell into ruins.

In 1887, he served as secretary and attaché to Col.
Curtis P. Iaukea and accompanied Princess Liliʻuokalani, Governor Dominis, and Queen Kapiʻolani to England for the celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.
The Hawaiian party was graciously received and given the same honor as every nation in attendance.
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.
Robert requested to return home, and James agreed and sent a letter to Hawaii requesting for his return.
It would take another three months before his brother could return to Hawaii.
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.

A few months afterwards, his brother Robert returned home along with other Hawaiian students who had been studying abroad under the financial support of King Kalākaua, which ceased because the new legislature refused to continue to fund the King's many ventures.
A rebellion led by Robert and his classmate Robert William Wilcox failed to change the political atmosphere in Hawaii and only served to anger the annexationists even more.

After the King's death in 1891 and his sister Liliʻuokalani's accession to the throne, Boyd was reappointed as colonel on the Queen's staff.
On January 14, 1893, a large crowd of Hawaiians gathered in front of ʻIolani Palace demanding for a new constitution, but Queen Liliʻuokalani addressed the crowd, saying that she couldn't give them the new constitution at that time because of her ministers' refusal to sign and ratify the document.
The Queen insisted that they return home peacefully.

This action would have a significant impact on the course of Hawaiian history.
Three days later, two of her ministers betrayed the Queen to the Committee of Safety, and she was overthrown and the Provisional Government was established by the annexationists.

Boyd's family strongly opposed the Provisional Government and the Republic of Hawaii that followed, because of Boyd's friendship with Liliʻuokalani and relation to Princess Kaʻiulani, as her brother-in-law.
But after the annexation of Hawaii by the United States, Boyd served the Territorial government as Superintendent of Public Works from 1901 to 1902.

Boyd died on August 14, 1915, in Waimea, on the Big Island.
The funeral was held on August 18 in Honolulu, and he was buried in the Oahu Cemetery.
In 1877, Boyd served as captain on the staff of the governor of Oahu, John Owen Dominis. He was elevated to colonel on the King's staff in 1880. During this period of service he became better acquainted with Princess Liliʻuokalani, the governor's wife. Boyd was quite popular and gained the confidence of the Hawaiian royal family. During the coronation of King Kalākaua in 1883, he was trusted with the position of bearer of the royal crowns. He also served as Marriage License Agent in 1880, Private Ways and Water Rights in 1882, Captain Co. C, Prince's Own in 1885, and the King's Special Commissioner in 1886.
On September 20, 1886, Boyd took possession of Ocean Island, later renamed Kure Atoll, for the Hawaiian crown as King Kalākaua's special commissioner. Kalākaua had done this in response to frequent shipwrecks along the surrounding reefs, including the notorious 1870 wreck of the USS Saginaw. He ordered that a crude house be built on the island, with tanks for holding water and provisions for any other unfortunates who might be cast away there. But the provisions were stolen within a year, and the house soon fell into ruins.
In 1887, he served as secretary and attaché to Col. Curtis P. Iaukea and accompanied Princess Liliʻuokalani, Governor Dominis, and Queen Kapiʻolani to England for the celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Hawaiian party was graciously received and given the same honor as every nation in attendance. 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. Robert requested to return home, and James agreed and sent a letter to Hawaii requesting for his return. It would take another three months before his brother could return to Hawaii. 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.
A few months afterwards, his brother Robert returned home along with other Hawaiian students who had been studying abroad under the financial support of King Kalākaua, which ceased because the new legislature refused to continue to fund the King's many ventures. A rebellion led by Robert and his classmate Robert William Wilcox failed to change the political atmosphere in Hawaii and only served to anger the annexationists even more.
After the King's death in 1891 and his sister Liliʻuokalani's accession to the throne, Boyd was reappointed as colonel on the Queen's staff. On January 14, 1893, a large crowd of Hawaiians gathered in front of ʻIolani Palace demanding for a new constitution, but Queen Liliʻuokalani addressed the crowd, saying that she couldn't give them the new constitution at that time because of her ministers' refusal to sign and ratify the document. The Queen insisted that they return home peacefully.
This action would have a significant impact on the course of Hawaiian history. Three days later, two of her ministers betrayed the Queen to the Committee of Safety, and she was overthrown and the Provisional Government was established by the annexationists.
Boyd's family strongly opposed the Provisional Government and the Republic of Hawaii that followed, because of Boyd's friendship with Liliʻuokalani and relation to Princess Kaʻiulani, as her brother-in-law. But after the annexation of Hawaii by the United States, Boyd served the Territorial government as Superintendent of Public Works from 1901 to 1902.
Boyd died on August 14, 1915, in Waimea, on the Big Island. The funeral was held on August 18 in Honolulu, and he was buried in the Oahu Cemetery.
James Harbottle Boyd