Question: Please give me as much information as possible regarding the large green lizard that was caught recently. I’ve seen one similar to the brief description given by the news report, at my mom’s house, except smaller (about 4 to 6 inches). Who should I contact if I see it again?
Answer: The illegal lizard that was caught Oct. 24 on the grounds of Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School was an adult Madagascar giant day gecko that was about a foot long before it lost its tail during the chase, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
These bright green lizards are known to bite, so it’s a good thing that the school custodian who first spotted the lizard called the state’s pest hotline rather than trying to catch it. DOA plant quarantine inspectors went to the school and with the help of the custodian found and caught the reptile.
Besides their brilliant body color, Madagascar giant day geckos are distinguished by a red stripe from the nostrils to the eyes and orange spots on their back; they grow up to a foot long, according to the DOA.
The Madagascar gecko is sometimes confused with the gold dust day gecko, which is more common in Hawaii. The gold dust day gecko is smaller and has yellowish stripes from eye to eye; its body is also green. Based on the size of the lizard you saw at your mom’s, it might be a gold dust day gecko, but it’s best to check with the pest hotline.
Call 643-PEST (7378) and press 9 once the greeting starts to play. An expert can answer your questions and, if necessary, provide an email address where you can send photos of the lizard you saw, if you have any.
A small population of Madagascar giant day geckos has been found in Hawaii, according to the DOA, far from their native island off Africa’s southeastern coast. Authorities want to limit their spread here because the large lizards eat birds’ eggs and, like other geckos, can carry salmonella. They also eat various insects and small invertebrates, according to the DOA.
Blueprint preview
The team that Gov. David Ige appointed to establish a new vision for Hawaii’s public schools is previewing its draft plan at a public meeting this evening at Moanalua High School. The community forum begins at 6 p.m. in the library. Preregistration at 808ne.ws/2edmtg is encouraged but not required.
This final scheduled forum of the ESSA Team (ESSA stands for “Every Student Succeeds Act,” the federal education law) comes after a statewide summit in July and months of community meetings that gathered ideas from students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators on all islands.
The collective effort aims to create a blueprint that guides the school system “now and into the future,” with an emphasis on school-level leadership that reflects Hawaii’s “enduring sense of community, culture and values,” according to the team’s vision statement.
After the draft is unveiled, people will be able to provide additional feedback to finalize the plan.
Mahalo
Mahalo to the librarians at Hawaii State Library for going beyond. I wanted to know if I could get access to a decades-old original newspaper, despite it being on microfilm, so I could make a photo of something in the paper. Often the film is scratched and doesn’t offload a clean image, and this was for display, not research. Not only did the librarian who answered my call say “yes,” but volunteered, “I’ll put it on hold for you at the Hawaiian and Pacific desk.” Sure enough, when I came in two days later, it was immediately produced, and in minutes I was at work on my volunteer history project. Service! — Anita Manning
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
