After ending my last relationship about two years ago, I embarked on a year of solo travel , during which I went on a few casual dates. Now I'm 27 years old and have moved back home to Maui to build a life here and make more meaningful, long-term connections.
Dating on an island may seem like a romantic dream. Most of my friends are in relationships, and Maui is a popular honeymoon destination, so I'm often surrounded by couples. But many singles, including myself, have become jaded after wading in the shallow pool of potential partners. Trying to find a match in your small hometown is difficult enough β you tend to already know most of the locals β but since mine is also a tourist hot spot, I meet a lot of transients who are only seeking short-term flings.
When it comes to a romantic partner, I'm looking for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual compatibility β my four pillars of a relationship.
I've been on and off dating apps since I first joined Tinder in , with two serious relationships in-between. I've also been exploring my sexuality. I identify as pansexual β I'm attracted to people regardless of their gender identity β but have limited experience dating people who aren't cisgender men.
I think apps like Hinge and Bumble make it a lot easier to connect with other queer people. I prefer Hinge since Bumble requires women to send the first message, and if someone doesn't say anything within 24 hours, the match expires. This can be inconvenient if you don't regularly check the app. Hinge allows users to approve or deny likes at their convenience, and there's no time limit for messaging first. I also like that it offers photo and voice prompts, so people can get more creative with their profiles.
