There are many species of thrips and most will need a magnifyer to be seen. Some of them are large like pepper thrips.
It is easier to recognize their damage. By the time you may notice the damage to the plants, the thrips may have moved on to other plants. Edges of flowers look dry, sometimes you can see flower thrips on white flowers. Leaves are stippled. Young leaves can be deformed when they open
While individual thrip are not hard to kill, they are difficult to get rid of because they have so many host plants.
https://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7429.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=thrip+d ... d=0CB0QsAQ
Happy gardening in Hawaii. Gardens are where people grow.