This photo was taken near Hapuna Beach on the Big Island of Hawai’I in 2023. This colorful animal that you are looking at is a gold dust day gecko. Jill and I were heading back from a day of exploring the island when this little guy caught our attention. I had my camera with me, as there always seems to be something exciting to photograph while we’re in Hawai’i. By approaching slowly and cautiously, I was able to get progressively closer and sharper photos of this gecko. Its appearance is unique, and remind me of Kermit the Frog for some reason.

This lizard was a bit out of place in Hawai’i. It’s an invasive species there, and it has been introduced across many islands of the Pacific. It originates from Madagascar, Tanzania, and Comoros. It can usually be found in houses or in trees. They are small lizards, growing to a length of about 4-5 inches. Their color is primarily bright green with a yellowish green underside. Rarely they will also have a blue color. They have red speckles on their neck and upper back, and the upper part of the skin around their eyes are blue. There are tapering red bars across the lower back, but this is missing in juveniles.