Spiny-backed orb weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis). This species is also found on the mainland.
Spiny-backed orb weaver by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrAsian spiny-backed spider, Gasteracantha mammosa. It is easy to see a 'Cheshire cat' pattern on the abdomen.
Asian spiny-backed spider by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrA nest of paper wasps. These look to be Polistes aurifer, which is a species that also occurs on the mainland.
Paper wasps by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrWindfall coconuts attract arthropods. These cockroaches are the Pacific beetle roach, Diploptera punctata.
Pacific beetle cockroach by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrNumerous species of lizards abound on the Hawaiian islands. To my knowledge, all of these were introduced by humans, generally from the pet trade and assistance from human stupidity. At a botanical garden there was an informative display about the various invasive lizards, and among them was a posting about the different chameleons to be found there. Not 10 feet from this display was a spectacular horned chameleon just sitting there! I thought that surely this was a realistic plastic model that someone put there as a joke, given it was so close to the display, but then its eye rotated to look at me. This is the Jackson’s chameleon, Trioceros jacksonii., and it is native to Africa. It is the males that have horns while females usually lack them. The many species of introduced lizards are of course a problem since they will prey on the native fauna. Big lizards like this one will take baby birds.
Jackson's chameleon by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
