Chamaeleo jacksonii (common names Jackson's Chameleon or Three-horned Chameleon) is an African chameleon belonging to the chameleon family (Chamaeleonidae). The subspecies distinct to Hawaii is called the Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus.



Meet Jackson, who is not a pet. He was found this morning and released after this pose. While driving to a Church social, I found him crossing the road I was traveling, narrowly missing him. Slow in all of their movement, I had time to turn around pull off to the side of the road and pick him up before the next car arrived.

He is completely docile, not becoming the slightest bit agitated at being lifted off the road in the palm of my hand. When under stress their coloration becomes darker. When cold or under severe stress, a solid dark brown color dominates. Note the dorsal crest that runs the length of the trunk. Gular striations are apparent here, because this one is a juvenile animal.

Males have three prominent horns. Two originate in front of the eyes (i.e., preocular horns) and the third, rostral horn, from the snout.

We took him to the social with us, placed him in a hanging plant and picked him up three hours later. Pictures were taken by Gecko in his livingroom. He is now freely roaming my back yard probably nuzzling up to insects, grasshoppers and the like.

David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Naloiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalakaua, was his distinguished name.

He attended what was known then as the Royal School and grew to be multiskilled, becoming the Hawai`i's Postmaster General. At midlife the Hawaiian Legislature elected him as king. While in that position, he then had the authority to restore elements of ancient Hawaiian culture lost and replaced by Christian teachings. Such was the demise of the hula.



But trouble began in 1887 with the imposition on the king of a new constitution that sharply limited his powers.

Kalakaua governed from 1874 to 1891, and his sister, Queen Liliuokalani succeeded him upon his death.

Remembered and memorialized as the "Merrie Monarch", we have this annual festival.



The Merrie Monarch Festival runs a full week with cultural events every year in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii (Gecko's home)The celebrations begin on Easter Sunday and close with the hula competition events at Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium.

The following pictures were taken by Gecko at the initial noncompetitive performances last week.



Regretably, I am not sufficiently a Geeky Gecko to have included the music. But it is deeply tribal and powerful.

Note the Yellow Oleander blossom on this bush at the end of my driveway. This is the first time I have seen a blossom. It's beautiful, isn't it. Well take a step back.

The Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants with a extremely high toxicity from many dangerous compounds, many of which can be deadly to people, especially young children. The most significant of these toxins are oleandrin and neriine, which are cardiac glycosides which are present in all parts of the plant, but are most concentrated in the sap. Oleander is also known to hold its toxicity even after drying.

It is thought that a single handful or 10-20 leaves consumed by an adult can cause an adverse reaction, and a single leaf could be lethal to an infant or child!

According to the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) in 2002 there were 847 known human poisonings in the United States related to Oleander (Watson 2003). These deaths occur disproportionally in Hawaii. Most animals can suffer a reaction or death from this plant.

Ingestion can cause both gastrointestinal and cardiac effects. The gastrointestinal effects can consist of nausea and vomiting, excess salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea that may or may not contain blood.

Cardiac reactions consist of irregular heart rate, sometimes characterized by a racing heart at first that then slows to below normal further along in the reaction. The heart may also beat erratically with no sign of a specific rhythm. Extremities may become pale and cold due to poor or irregular circulation. For me, this would be similiar to my most infrequent visits to the dentist.

Reactions to poisonings from this plant can also affect the central nervous system. These symptoms can include drowsiness, tremors or shaking of the muscles, seizures, collapse, and even coma that can lead to death.

In Hawaii, many live off the land. It would surprise the tourist how many who live here are homeless. Eventhough the weather is friendly to the homeless, dangers remain.

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A bumblebee should be in a world of joy within this blossom. Gecko took this one as well another twenty yards down the road.