Illegal Aliens! (in cages?!)** OK, bad pun!

Michel (with 3 'horns' -- and Janet Jacksons

After our home was destroyed (by fire and then lava)  back in May of last year, we were grateful to find two temporary living situations. While living in our second temporary home on the 6-acre farm we found out there is a population of green illegal aliens -- living right here in Volcano!

It appears that a pet store owner on Oahu in 1972 got a permit to import them from East Africa, but since that time with numerous escapees, their population has grown and they are now considered a pest with prohibitions on raising them to sell or transport between islands.

At the farm the local cats found them entertaining and would bring them inside to play with. We helped rescue a few, and decided they would make fun (caged) pets. Here's a photo of Michael and Janet Jacksons -- because they are "Jacksons Chameleons" -- Trioceros Jacksonii.

They live up to 10 years and grow about 13 inches long. It's hard to tell how old these two are, but they are obviously mature. This last week we have been watching their slow-motion courtship. We do NOT plan to incubate eggs when she lays them because we don't want to contribute to the population as they compete for insects in the native forests.

So, now our weekly grocery/shopping list includes buying crickets which they each eat every day. And, speaking of weekly lists -- here's a sample of what a "Hilo Day" typically looks like. Of this overwhelming list of 15 stops, we only we able to get 12 done -- but we at least managed to stop for the Jacksons' crickets and for us --  a tasty take-home dinner.

FINALLY!!!  We are moving into our newly completed art studio. Today we began to schlep boxes of tools and supplies from the temporary "shop" where Phil has been working with his wood art. We will be posting photos of the inside and outside very soon.

** Of course the use of 'cages' is a hot topic -- no offense or inference intended, just a bad pun. 

Romance on the Ranch ***

"I am so lonely without Michael"

In our last blog entry, we posted a photo of the bright lime-green chameleon living in the olive tree just outside our back porch/lanai. At first we though it was an iguana, but found out she is a Jackson's chameleon - apparently the only one left because the barnyard cats seem to enjoy catching them.

Yesterday, however, our landlady invited me to "come see what the cat brought in." She'd rescued another chameleon from the cat (who thought it was a play-toy) by wrapping it up in a towel. She was planning to tuck him into the bromeliads and camellia bushes near our front door. I protested, offering to re-unite the three-horned colorful male with his  mate pining away in the olive tree.

Lunel taking Michael to the olive tree

"Mahalia - hang on, I'm coming home"

So, our family has just expanded! 
Meet the Jacksons -- Michael and Mahalia!  Of course we're reading up on their preferred habitat, food, habits, life-style and sex life.

Perhaps one of the reasons there are only two (that we have discovered) is that the babies are born as tiny creatures -- not in eggs and the offspring are often gobbled up by hungry parents. The adults can grow up to 15" and live over 10 years. They are chameleons, so spotting them up on the olive tree isn't easy, and when the local nesting hawks fly over, they quickly scurry under a branch and tuck their tails up in a tight spiral.

Phil introducing "Makenzi"

Since Lunel is fascinated with the local Hawaiian mythology concerning the Mo'o giant lizards and her six foot Mo'o sculpture is now part of the Pu'u of our property, we'll just call this a good omen.


*** HOLD THE PRESSES!!  

Just in from a trusted source The Village Voice (reporting from makai side Volcano Village)  This monogamous reptile family has turned out to be a  menage a trois! Meet the "other woman" newly arrived at the olive tree. Her name is Makenzi Jacksons.