Fast life histories allow colonizing populations to rapidly escape the risk of stochastic extinction, while slow life histories can buffer against poor conditions. Thus, either strategy can be successful depending on the context of the invasion. Recent species-level trait compilations have found that introduced reptiles tend to have relatively fast life histories. However, life history is highly variable within species and may be shaped by the invasion process. Therefore, evaluating population-level traits is necessary for understanding the trajectory of specific invasions. We measured individual somatic growth and population growth under controlled field conditions in three species of introduced lizards in Hawaii, which share similar species-level traits, to determine how life history may be affecting community dynamics in this ongoing invasion. We found a trade-off along the fast-slow life history axis: Anolis sagrei grew the fastest and had the lowest survival, Phelsuma laticauda grew the slowest and had the highest survival, and Anolis carolinensis was intermediate. By the end of the year, both the fastest and slowest species had achieved densities that were approximately twice as high as those of the intermediate species. We also found differences along the shape of the life axis: Anolis carolinensis only reproduced during half the year, while the other species reproduced year-round. These results suggest that successful establishment by A. carolinensis would be most impacted by when during the year introductions occur, and that they would be at the highest risk of stochastic extinction. Despite having similar life history traits at the species level, these species have very different life histories in Hawaii, and both the shape of life and pace of life traits are likely important for determining establishment and spread. Our results support increased attention on the shape of life traits and on intraspecific trait variation in order to better understand the establishment and spread of introduced species.