Years ago , during my first NGS assignment covering my island home, Molokai, my friend Paul Chesley came out to stay with me. He had just finished photographing a book on the Continental Divide for NGS. Paul was the person who gave me the encouragement to propose this story on Molokai. As I was covering the island, I was continuously stumped with my coverage of the chicken fights in Kualapuu. So Paul came down with me to witness this illegal event that was an important part of this community. I had been photographing the fights for a while with permission from the house organizer Toleen. (at the center in blue shorts.) There weren’t many haoles in the crowd. After a while, and a few fights, Paul suggested, “how about the old Nicholas Devore rule, When in doubt, go up.” ( Nicholas was a great friend of Paul’s, a wonderful talent at NGS, and sadly since has passed on.) So with Pauls help I got up on the chicken house roof and took a series of photos from this fresh perspective and resulted with this image. Amazingly no one was looking up at this large haole on the roof with two cameras. It is also a testament to having permission in advance and a photographer friend, who helped me get through my block to the solution that symbolized the whole event. I cannot count the number of times that I have thought of Nicholas’ advice when I have been stuck. Later, I gave this print to Toleen, who I have remained friendly with over these past thirty years. A number of the people in this photo have passed away and this photo is a reminder of their passion for this sport and a moment when they were so engrossed. Since then, these fights aren’t part of the community and have long been underground. Today I realize how fortunate I was to witness this rich event that today is part of this island’s rich history. I dedicate this to the memory of Pepeto Mondoy, the greatest chicken fighter/ trainer on Molokai, who graciously vouched for me and got me in the door.
Today as I write I’m thinking of Jonathan, who is on his first NGS assignment in Virginia, and I’m wishing him clear vision, patience and deep excitement to lead the way. It’s great to know that Matt is with him, as Paul was there to help me see. I look forward to reading about this in his blog.
Richard A. Cooke III, has been a professional photographer for 40 years. Much of that time he worked as a freelancer for The National Geographic Society, where he traveled to much of the world on a variety of assignments. His main interest is focusing on the innate beauty of his subjects and honoring that.
2 Comments
Thanks for the post Rikki! Your advice was on my mind during the shoot.
Best – Jonathan
Hi Rik! I just finished encouraging a couple of my oldest, dearest friends Drs. Gerry Thomas and wife Beth Collings, who spend a lot of time on Molokai, to contact you. I told them that you used to encourage me to winter with you on the ranch, but it was during those years when the rich adventure that was the pioneering Iditarod was absorbing my full attention, time and resources. Here and there through the years I’ve kept loose track of you and remain a fan of your work. Hope your knee replacement went well. A couple days ago X-rays confirmed what I had long suspected, that I need a new hip. Even so I carried my full pack and kept up with my two eldest sons (25 &26)while on a long pack in for moose last month. Loved, simply loved your encouragement to follow your excitement! God has blessed us each with special talents and He sees to it that we are able to find His gifts not only by what we are good at, but what lights our fire. It’s taken me a lifetime to conclude that I am, even more than a hunter and fisherman, adventurer and entrepreneur, a storyteller. Very niche y, but my passion is for what I call “Romantic Old North.” You might like to check out my very simple, friend-built website to see where following my excitement has led me. By the way, after reading one of my works, Pete and Claudia recently wrote.
Best to you, old friend, Rod
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