Tori C. Derrick
Tori C. Derrick
Guide of Hawaii, LLC
President / Publisher
- 15 years in Hawaii travel & tourism
- Certified Hawaii Destination Expert
- Editor of multiple Hawaii Visitor Guides
Tori combines her passion for Hawaii’s natural beauty with her skills in content creation and digital publishing. She is dedicated to guiding visitors toward authentic experiences, highlighting hidden gems and local traditions across the islands. When she’s not crafting engaging content or enhancing the website, Tori enjoys gardening, photography, and caring for their many animals on their homestead.
Experience
For over 15 years, Tori has held a deep appreciation for Hawaii, a passion sparked by her first visit in 2009. A traveler at heart with an eye for beauty and authenticity, Tori found an instant connection with Hawaii’s unique landscapes, vibrant culture, and abundant nature. From lush gardens and captivating wildlife to the islands’ fascinating history, her ongoing exploration continues to inspire her contributions to this website.
Today, her enthusiasm for Hawaii remains strong, reflected in the thoughtful content she creates to help others experience the islands fully. Tori especially enjoys sharing insights into Hawaiian flora, local customs, and capturing the beauty of Hawaii through photography.
Outside of her Hawaii-focused endeavors, Tori enjoys gardening, photography, caring for their parrots and animals, and spending time outdoors at their homestead.
Hibiscus Flower
Expertise
Before joining HawaiiGuide full-time, Tori built extensive expertise in digital content creation, SEO, and online publishing. She specializes in crafting compelling narratives and strategies designed to engage travelers and connect them meaningfully with Hawaii.
• Hawaii Travel & Tourism – Developing in-depth articles, travel resources, and authentic recommendations.
• Content Strategy & SEO – Optimizing content to attract and engage visitors through effective search strategies and compelling storytelling.
• Digital Publishing & Marketing – Coordinating the creation and distribution of digital content, with a keen focus on visitor insights and trends.
• Cultural & Natural Highlights – Sharing valuable insights on Hawaii’s unique flora, fauna, culture, and history.
• Photography & Creative Direction – Enhancing the visual storytelling experience of HawaiiGuide through carefully curated imagery and thoughtful content design.
Tori continues to guide the content strategy, editorial direction, and overall visitor experience on HawaiiGuide, ensuring the site remains a valuable resource for travelers.
Hawaii Destination Specialist & Expert
Victoria (Tori) C. Derrick is a Certified Hawaii Destination Specialist & Expert with the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Hawaii Destination Expert & Specialist Badges
Education
While Tori’s expertise comes primarily through years of hands-on experience rather than formal academic training, her deep understanding of digital publishing, content strategy, and Hawaii’s cultural and natural beauty has been invaluable to HawaiiGuide’s growth. Her passion for learning, self-driven education, and attention to detail have shaped her into a trusted voice for travelers seeking genuine connections to the islands.
- Page last updated March 2025
Tori's Social Media
These days, Tori devotes most of her energy to creating thoughtful content and enhancing HawaiiGuide—so if she seems quiet on social media, don’t worry; she’s definitely not ignoring you. She’s probably immersed in editing, gardening, or dreaming up new ways to showcase Hawaii’s beauty.
Press Mentions & Memberships
June 15, 2021
Victoria was interviewed in a 2021 'Washington Post' article on Hawaii travel during the pandemic, offering insights drawn from over a decade of firsthand Hawaii tourism knowledge.
2017-2025
As a wellness advocate who values mindful movement, particularly in Hawaii, Tori enthusiastically supports Barre3 for its balanced approach to fitness, health, and community.
July 10, 2023
Julia McCoy interviewed Victoria in a 2023 'Brandwell' case study for A.I. content generation tools. Ultimately, we decided to continue writing our organic content in-house, using AI as a writing assistant to maintain our high-quality standards.
2025-2026
We are members of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and are listed by the Hawaii Tourism Authority on the GoHawaii.com website, the official website for the state of Hawaii's tourism efforts.
Aloha from HawaiiGuide
Your Trusted Guides to Hawai'i
Hawaii-Guide.com / HawaiiGuide.com was developed by John & Tori Derrick, two certified Hawaii destination experts, to provide Hawaii visitors with everything they need to create the perfect Hawaii trip. This website is dedicated to being the one-stop resource for all things Hawaii.
Since 2002, our Hawaii website has virtually assisted tens of millions of visitors in the process of planning and booking the Hawaiian vacation of their dreams.
First Trip in 2009
Our 2011 Wedding on Kauai
Present Day
