At what age do kids need to be tested? Does my covid-19 vaccination count for anything? Will my large family violate rules about safe gatherings? If I've already had coronavirus, am I good to go?

"It really does feel like you need a PhD in Hawaii Safe Travels to parse all the information," Derrick said.

Hawaii essentially shut down its borders to travel in March by requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone who flew in; officials told people not to come, and violators were arrested.

After seven strict months, and several delays, the state reopened its doors in mid-October with a program that lets visitors bypass what is now a 10-day quarantine with a negative coronavirus test taken at least 72 hours before they depart. Those tests have to be done by state-approved partners to count for the "Safe Travels" program.

Now, the tourism-dependent destination is trying to balance the safety of its communities, some of which have limited resources for sick residents, with the economic boost more visitors would bring. It's not an easy task.

Derrick said he wades through county websites and the state's tourism site every day to find out what travelers need to know.

"Most visitors I know are not going to go visit 12 different websites to figure out what the policies are," he said.

Would-be travelers have to navigate a tangle of requirements depending on where they plan to go and how they'll get there, with new rules popping up and even more potential changes ahead if some elected officials get their way.