Here's lookin' at you, kid

This is Anolis carolinensis, also known as the Green Anole. He's not from 'round here.

Well, this particular individual probably is, but his species is not native to the Hawaiian islands. It's actually from the United States, where it naturally resides throughout the southwest into Texas and Florida. It didn't come to the islands until around 1950, when it was readily available in pet stores and likely escaped and/or was released. It can now be found on all the major islands, excluding Lanai and Niihau.

The green anole is aggressively territorial. Males will meet threats to their personal bubble with a flash of their brilliant pink throat patch (called a dewlap) or with a series of intimidating push-ups. This one didn't do either one of those things; I guess he wasn't threatened by me. He was pretty curious though. What a beauty, this one. He blends in so nicely.

There are at least 17 species of reptile that have established populations in Hawaii; the islands in fact have no native reptiles (apart from four species of marine turtle). Even the geckos, which are so readily associated with Hawaii, are introduced. They, along with all the anoles, skinks, chameleons, and the frogs, were brought over either by Polynesians in ancient times or as caged pets or stowaways since the time of western contact. There is even one species of burrowing snake that came over in the soil of potted palm trees. I guess we're fortunate that of all the cold-blooded creatures that managed to find their way out here to the middle of the Pacific, not a one is poisonous. Mostly they are just cute.