Papokaku Beach, golden early morning light streaming through a kiawe forest. Axis deer were introduced to Molokai from India and have done very well. This painting was interpreted with permission from one of Richard A. Cooke’s iconic photographs of the island he calls home (with permission). The deer live in large family herds, keep their spots into adulthood and a dominant female leads the group. Watching them leaping over fences, like a river of deer, takes your breath away. They’ve become a part of the local culture and diet, which helps to keep their number down.