The low number of Hawaii Covid cases had been enviable throughout the epidemic. Until now. The House Committee on Covid met yesterday and was informed that the state has gone from being at or near the bottom to higher than 23 mainland states in its Covid positivity rate. That according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center.
Who is to blame for the reversal in cases?
Everything we’ve seen points in the direction of Hawaii residents spreading the virus through gatherings, among other things. Yesterday, state officials and others, asked the public to return to mask-wearing, and social distancing, so that the state does not need to enforce further action to stop the spread.
Furthermore, most new cases are said to be among Hawaii residents and are often associated with residents returning home from travel with resulting community spread. That, rather than being a result of tourist arrivals. It appears far less likely for tourists, many of whom are vaccinated, to be in as close contact with residents compared with those who live here and are returning. Las Vegas, ultra-popular among Hawaii residents, has been considered one breeding ground of Hawaii infections.
We thought things were going well here in Hawaii until suddenly they weren’t.
Since this epidemic began last year, Hawaii has been blessed with numbers low enough that many of us felt largely outside the scope of problems the mainland was facing. In fact, the State’s House Committee, too, had taken a relaxed approach and had not even met for 5 months, with problems seemingly in check. Now, however, things have changed.
In spite of this, for the moment, Hawaii travel roars on.
Currently, the state has not indicated any further changes planned that might impact tourism. And, visitors from the US mainland are still arriving in record numbers, as seen in the latest image below.
Hawaii’s concerns are multifaceted.
Hawaii first is worried about its limited medical capacity. That is very real, especially outside of Honolulu. And even in Honolulu, with most of the state’s resources, hospitalizations have gone up significantly in just the past few weeks.
The state, too, is concerned that any Covid policies and procedures changes could impact its still-fragile economy and the all-important Hawaii tourism engine. Senate chair Saiki said that already, “People are concerned we’re going to revert.”
Hawaii hospitals under pressure.
The limited island medical facilities are strained due to inadequate staffing of doctors and nurses and increased caseloads. Some hospitals are again postponing elective surgeries. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said, “The best way, of course, to deal with this hospital surge is to not have it.” He added, ” there’ll be a lot of discussions to bring the heat down in coming weeks.” Green would like to see a new reduced limit on the size of gatherings implemented.
As a regular BOH commenter, David pointed out, “Lack of medical professionals in Hawaii, especially outside of Oahu/ Honolulu, is nothing new. Multiple reasons. Difficult state licensing requirements may be one of them, but also the cost of living versus pay rates and isolation from other professionals (few colleagues to consult with)… OK, there is no good place to have a heart attack, but if you are going to have one, get back to the mainland first. Serious trauma injuries (e.g., vehicle crashes of which we have plenty) get flown to Honolulu as a matter of routine.”
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Hawaii state government and the fools that elect them will still blame tourism for all the islands woes! Notice there is demographic data on who is infected. And furthermore, positivity is mostly an non issue without relevant hospitalization and death statistics.
I follow this blog all the time. It’s great. BUT… I can’t believe in the entire article you didn’t address the obvious reason – vaccinations! The lack of vaccination of Hawaii residents combined with the highly contagious Delta variant is a recipe for disaster. Masks and social distancing are good, but vaccination is the Island’s best defense. Your article doesn’t mention it, but I suspect the vast majority of the hospitalized cases are among unvaccinated residents. Hawaii had the chance – the perfect opportunity since you had low COVID rates while the mainland was getting hammered – to lead the way by following shut down with high vaccination rates, but blew it. So sad.
The CDC has documented an IFR (Infection Fatality Ratio) for Covid of 0.26%. That means 99.7% of people who get infected will be ok.
With a survival rate like that, case counts are irrelevant. Covid is an inconvenient seasonal flu, nothing more. In 2018 Hawaii had 834 deaths from influenza, but there was no travel ban, limitations on gatherings, mask mandates, etc. How is it that there is so much concern over Covid when there was none for influenza, a demonstrably more deadly virus, at least in Hawaii’s case?
Excellent commentary with pertinent facts. Thank you Andrew!
Same as San Francisco during the Spanish flu Pandemic. Rounds 1,2 they had low numbers because they followed the guidelines
However when the 3 wave hit they were not.They Stop following the safety measures. Bad press or what ever. The citizens of SF where hit with very high numbers.
Something like now, the numbers are up going up, our state still opens the state for business.
Speaking of San Fran..
How is the most masked up and vaccinated large city……having a Covid Spike, reinstating mandates, and still scared?
Weird huh?
yeah, weird that they are proving everything being propagated as truth to be wrong. 🤔
Florida is now the national leader in Covid deaths. Most of those infected are reportedly in the 20 to 40 year old range. Hospitals are overwhelmed,and the Governor won’t mandate masks.
Texas is bringing in out of State nurses. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the Governor won’t mandate masks.
I’m glad to see that Hawaii, as well as other responsible leaders in many States are working to protect their residents, by mandates to keep the number of infections lower.
The Vaccine exception to travel is useless and causing more spread. My Chiropractor and her two friends were all vaccinated and still caught COVID 3 weeks ago. My Aunty and Uncle were vaccinated and are positive right now. The vaccines do a good job at minimizing the affect of the virus, but it’s not preventing infection. Allowing travelers into the state without verifying negative results is what is causing the virus to spread. Require negative tests for all.
My wife & I have spent the months of summer & fall in Waikiki and Maui for years, but that ended abruptly in 2020, and I would not consider returning regularly– It was wonderful when we thought of it as the rhythm of our lives to spend almost half a year in such a culture, but its danger of disease is a mirror image of what native Hawai’ians unknowingly absorbed when Anglo-Europeans found the Sandwich Is. and infected them.
We have canceled our September visit. Our concern – medical care if we get sick. Note: we are fully vaccinated. The risks are are not worth it. Also reports of ‘crowds’ to many tourists – distracts from all the reasons we go to Hawaii.
There is always tomorrow. Aloha
Do not blame the locals anymore please!!!. We had the lowest Corona outbreaks in the county before they opened tourism back up.
You are spreading false information about our sensitive Island Community.
I honestly do NOT believe there’s no relationship between 35k incoming TRAVELERS PER DAY with the rise of Covid especially when many residents interface with the tourists 40+ hrs a week especially since many work in the tourists industry.
(Deleted – see comment rules)… and not be soooo Greedy on the Tourist Dollar.
35k (Deleted) per day x 5 days = 175k more people that’s compromising the health of HAWAII
H. E. L. L. O. ? !
The people have been lied to from the very beginning concerning everything about this virus, why should we start believing the government or the media now. I suggest to everyone to unplug from the Matrix while you still can!
So nothing was done to increase medical capacity over the last 18 months?? Maybe fewer atv purchases and police OT hours.. outrageous..
Dr Pang told Maui schoolboard on a zoom meeting Monday night, that the new Lambda Varient is vaccine resistant!! It’s in So. America now. Why aren’t you telling people about LAMBDA?? He said getting another shot of the current vaccines will NOT help because of this resistance. Is this why CDC is not reconmmending boosters?
He also said it’s errorous to say our outbreak is from community transmission because we are NOT testing tourists. We MUST return testing and quarantine for travelers to Hawai’i.
He also said he told the Governor to hold off opening schools for 3 weeks,
The hysteria and fear is setting in among those who aren’t well educated on this topic…😲
Whats driving these unbelievable infection rates is 2 things,
First it’s the residents who refuse to get vaccinated travelling off Island and returning home and spreading the virus amongst all their close contacts. Second is the State and County policy allowing returning infected residents who aren’t vaccinated,have no proof of a negative test and refuse to be tested upon arrival to be allowed to quarantine at home and then infect entire households who aren’t quarantined and are free to then spread it wvwryqhere they go. Make returning residents with no proof of a vaccination or negative test quarantine in a designated quarantine location
Please do your research with the residents…the cases were lower with out the tourists.
The surge is all across the country. Cases were lower before DELTA. California had one of the lowest rates in the country before DELTA hit. You guys like to blame the tourists for everything.
Conspiracy theories in 2020:
Vaccine Passports
Vaccinated to eat in restaurants
vaccine mandates
Wuhan Lab leak
Realities in 2021:
Vaccine Passports
restaraunt Passports
DOE mandates for athletes
Wuhan lab leak
What type of mask actually works?
How many feet of distancing?
Do we need to wipe surfaces?
Do you need a booster less than 7 months later?
My 99.7% covid mortality rate increases to what with a mandatory vaccine? 99.8%?
Aloha BoH – yes, we’re coming to Maui in Sept – we’re thankful that our place is on the water so we’ll swim & snorkel; is close to a grocery store & we love to cook, so cooking from “home” will suit us just fine, and got a good deal on a car rental for those long drives we like to take. What we probably won’t be doing is dining out, going on excursions or going out to listen to live music – we hope we can pick up where we left off when we come back in Feb. we sure miss our islands. 🌺💝
I’ve said since day one, that if Covid ever got a foothold on this island it would take off like wildfire.
Families here meet in large multi-family, multi-age groups. People hug and KISS, share food, laughs, all unmasked.
While I love the culture of ohana, it will be a danger unless vaccinations AND masking increase.
Thank you for attempting to protect our island family.
Given our cautious approach throughout, due to our limited medical resources and ability to “raise the drawbridge” and pretty tightly control who comes here, I will not be surprised at all if restrictions are tightened a little, and strong suggestions are made to voluntarily take extra precautions, regardless of who is spreading it and where they are coming from. If the majority of the spread in Hawaii is not coming from tourists, great, that shows the travel restrictions are working, and there’s no reason not to continue. If that then means that the majority of the spread is amongst the locals, then further education is needed, and possibly a return to limits on gathering sizes. If there are indeed a lot of locals bringing it back from Las Vegas, or wherever, and they don’t submit a negative test or proof of vaccination and are required to quarantine, maybe they shouldn’t be allowed to quarantine at home. Nobody can honestly believe that if part (or all) of a household is required to quarantine at home that they will change their normal behavior even a little bit. They will continue to hang out with family and friends. Quarantine ’em in a hotel. If they are traveling to Las Vegas unvaccinated then we can freely question their intelligence, and they can go and gamble all they want, but they shouldn’t be allowed to gamble with our health when they get back.
Your exactly right about not allowing unvaccinated non tested reaidents to quarantine at home.
Quarantine facilities are the only way to stop the spread
It’s not hard to test those people, without a pre-flight negative test, right off the plane with a 15-20 minute test and determine if they are covid positive. Big Island did it for months. You also you can’t justify forcing people to stay somewhere other than their home, with a 99.8% death rate that is comparable to the annual flu (of the past)…apparently that has disappeared since covid arrived though. 🤔
Fortunately you don’t get to throw people in jail for 10 days…errr quarantine them outside their home. I sure am glad you don’t represent the people of Hawaii in Government.
As a resident of the Big Island I try to keep abreast of what is being said here at BOH. Most of the information is spot on.
I also see a lot of anecdotal information about only resident spreading covid.
My daughter who is a pharmacist for Longs here on the BI always has stories to tell. Last week a mother came in to her pharmacy to gets some drugs for her adult twice vaccinated daughter who left the mainland knowing she was contagious for covid-19. She downloaded all of her documents to safe travels and was given a free pass to infect the residents here.
She is just one of many pharmacists who probably also has stories to tell.
I am sure that there are more people coming from the mainland who are either symptomatic or asymptomatic than we know.
This means the state needs to reinstate some kind of mechanism that would not allow this to happen.
Travel is not as important to the lives of the residents here.
Thank you, Kelly
Hi Kelly.
Thanks for sharing that story.
Aloha.
It is either complete ignorance or intentional negligence to continue with the narrative that visitors are not having a part in bringing Covid to Hawaii. I don’t care what our corrupted local government reports. The arrival numbers to Hawaii of both residents and visitors have been staggering. Neither vaccine exemption or testing is fool proof and quarantine is not enforced. All you need to do is ask a medical professional just how many residents AND visitors they see come to them positive with Covid. How many don’t follow quarantine once diagnosed. From my experience residents are behaving far better than seen on the mainland, but no we have not been perfect.
We will continue to have increasing Covid cases if we choose to wear blinders. Good luck finding healthcare providers moving forward, they are sick and tired of being disregarded and disrespected. They have and continue to make requests of our state and are ignored. They are expected to clean up the mess created by out so called leaders, a mess that could have been largely prevented by managing the flow of those arriving in the state. Visitors are bringing COVID-19 just like residents, let’s stop pretending that is not happening, it only hurts us.
This story is sadly horrifying. The nerve of someone to knowingly get on a plane, or go anywhere at all, while actively infected.
I don’t understand. I thought everyone flying into Hawaii either had to prove a negative test or be completely vaccinated? If that’s not true maybe it should be. Including Hawaiians.
those who got the shot don’t have to test anymore
They need to go back to requiring EVERYONE to having the pretest 72 hours in advance of flying to Hawaii.
It is coming out in the news everyday more and more vaccinated people are getting sick! Require everyone to be tested!
Lisa, If they did that, what’s the purpose of getting the shot(s)? It doesn’t kill most people (99.8%) at this point, whether vaxxed or not. The science has long gone out the window, and it now appears to be more about control, rather than facts or science. The death rate has yet to start climbing back to Jan 2021 numbers, and until more pople start dying in droves, it’s not going to happen.
At this point, it seems to be all about establishing fear and hysteria to the masses that do what they’re told without using their critical thinking skills. 🤷♂️
Anyone know of a private car rental opportunity? Coming in October.
Oooopps…..coming to Kauai
Dick L
We have reservations for 3 weeks in Kauai starting in late August and are still planning to go. We are being very careful here at home to be sure we don’t get ill and bring anything to the island. But we’re coming !
We just cancelled our September vacation today. We love Hawaii and the Hawaiian people but with covid on the raise and restrictions likely, we decided to wait until the covid numbers look better. Right now we plan to return in February for a long visit. Take care and stay safe.
I live on O’ahu and have a friend from the States who was scheduled to visit in November over the Thanksgiving week holiday. She texted me a few days back and said she cannot afford to risk coming here after seeing the shutdown procedures fr9m last year when COVID hit and then we had our July/August spike.
Whether you are pro or anti tourist, this is telling as she had waited and wanted for years to come here….but is now backing out. If she is backing out, it makes me wonder how many more people are considering (or doing) the same thing.
Personally I kinda liked having empty beaches, parks and more but I also completely understand that our economy is behilden to tourism. I’d love to see alternatives but there has not been a good concept for industry(ies) for replacing what we would lose in tourism dollars.
we just cancelled our dec. trip to kauai even though we’re both double vaccinated. age and underlying health issues factored into it as well as car rental fiasco etc. and fear of delta and whatever the latest virus mutation might be. this is the second cancellation to kauai and we’re heartbroken as kauai is our yearly treat. can’t wrap my head around why people won’t get vaccinated.
Vaccines aren’t the “cure all” that many
People think it is. According to the Aug 2, 2021CDC
stats, only only 49.3% of Americans are fully
vaxed, not even half. If it was so good, why isn’t the # in the 90% range? Many people have many
concerns and questions that aren’t being addressed. Please read A lot.
Local Boy with choke antibodies.
KCHM
Nice reply local boy! Yes, I agree people need to do their own research and look at all sides of the experimental injection! Love that you have Rock Solid, long lasting Natural Immunity which is THE BEST!!!
I personally know 4 Dead people ( ages 44, 62, 63, 80 years old) who died within hours of injection… I personally know 3 young men who had heart attacks & subsequent surgery ( ages 19,23,23 years old) …I personally know 4 dead babies via miscarriage all within hours of injection (4, 6, 7 and 7 month babies)
I am all for personal choice & freedom to decide whether to vax or not- just research well the risks involved & the risk/benefit of your age group to survive Covid & get those Rock Star antibodies.
Nita,
So sorry to hear of the losses and misfortunes of people you know personally.
With all that personal history and knowledge, you must be 1 in 100 million, as 99% of the people do not seem to know anyone who has had a bad reaction to the vaccine, or any serious side effects.
Your acquaintances are indeed an extremely rare group of citizens.
She probably works in the industry that see’s all this death, which isn’t being reported on your local News. That’s my guess. You need to seek to validate information, rather than believing what your told? Critical thinking skills…🤷♂️
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Who is to blame for the reversal in Hawaiian cases?
Seriously, follow the science to the Wuhan Lab that produced then let the virus escape into the local population way back on September 12th 2019.
I’ve never seen so much rear end covering in my life from China to the WHO to a scientific community that modified a virus for reasons unknown to me to be more contagious and deadly.
Where’s the outrage with the scientific community they’re the ones to blame for this.
Individuals need to wake up and quit blaming tourist, locals, vaccinated and un-vaccinated folks for the spread of this virus. No matter what precautions are taking a virus is going to do what it’s going to do.
It’s just Hawaii’s turn next it could be New Zealand or Australia.
Preach On Bruddah!!!
Two things…
What about masks!! Aren’t they supposed to work? Hawaii- most masked State in the Country.
Answer: No according to Bidens former Covid guy.
msn.com/en-us/health/medical/should-you-consider-buying-n95-respirators-instead-of-cloth-masks-osterholm-says-yes/ar-AAMKOHw?ocid=uxbndlbing
Yes, but hopefully the cases go down after the tourist leave in droves in September with their kids who are not vaccinated. It has been shown that the virus can be spread by those who are vaccinated like most of the tourists are. While tourists don’t go home like residents they are in close proximity with them since the workers in Hotels, Timeshares, Restaurants and Shops are local residents that do go home to family and friends. I understand that this Delta Variant is so contaigious that even close proximity can transmit the virus to others.
Totally agree. Just because someone is vaccinated doesn’t mean they cannot have it. Many will be asymptomatic, and vaxxed people don’t test. If vaxxed HI residents can bring it back from Vegas, then tourists coming in bring it as well. Especially the Delta strain.
The large resorts need to mandate vaccinations. When I was on Big Island at end of April, resort worker said she + her family were going to wait + see about getting vaccine – very nonchalant. Even though her kids had been exposed to sport coaches who were positive for covid. And her mother took care of kids some days of the week.
How can people be so nonchalant?
Because it’s still an experimental “treatment” for a sickness that 99.9% survive. Plus you can still get and spread COVID after getting the experimental injected into your body. Take care of yourself and stop living in fear of the flu.
Aloha, are there any statistics to prove that Hawaiians are spreading the disease? “Looks like” is not a scientific method.lala
It is based on science. Covid cases are currently only 2% travel associated (non resident).
health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/current-situation-in-hawaii/
It is not based on science at all. If you want it based on science talk to the medical professionals seeing both visitors and residents with covid here in Hawaii. The stats published are based on how our DOH decides to report and a local government who doesn’t want to shut down tourism. We have almost nonexistent contact tracing happening and even then the contact tracers are not looking for where the cases originated, just the last contact. Not to mention the fact that many visitors are likely going to return to their homestate before getting tested. Most visitors are arriving with only a vaccine exemption or pretesting that has been proved to not have the best accuracy, which is the reason people admitted to the hospital are testing 2 or 3 times before they are considered covid free. Covid is arriving by residents and tourists and pretending it’s not is only causing more harm.
Agreed.
Guessing thats the conclusion from contact tracing data.
Mahalo for the update. I wouldn’t want to be a burden to Hawaii & with Covid cases growing, I decided to cancel our Oahu trip this month. I’m fully vaccinated & I also have a medical underlying condition. If we all work together, we can put this pandemic behind us & back to normalcy.
Dear Grace, I’m suppose to come to Hawaii in April(2022) but when December rolls around I’m going to reevaluate the situation. If I had one wish it would be that covid never existed for health reasons, then travel! Stay safe! God bless you….John 3:16 & Psalms 91:11🐢🐠🌺🍍🥥🌍🏖🛩💺☀️🌈 Hopefully things will get smoothed out soon.
On the reverse… Your chances of being a burden to the island since yiu are vaccinated is probably low. The income potential might do more than staying home to avoid being a burden.
Who is to blame?
Tourists coming to Hawaii. People complaining about travel restrictions and deliberately disobeying Covid requirements as outlined by the state. Pretty simple, really… Covidiots.
Thank you.
I live in a tourist town in Alaska where we had low rates until the end of June. Through contact tracing the original outbreaks were linked to several evangelical churches where unvaccinated individuals were gathering together. As a result we had the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of cases per capita in the nation prior to the arrival of the first cruise ship of the season.
Tourists can bring covid, but that doesn’t mean locals aren’t also contributing.
You always want to blame the tourists for all your problems. Covid cases are currently only 2% travel associated (non resident).
health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/current-situation-in-hawaii/
Contact tracing data says you don’t know what the hell you are talking about.
Given the vaccinated still spread and catch it, they cannot be so easily exempted from the massive increase when we see massive waves of tourists flying in and out every day. Yes, they mingle with us, yes they eat and play with us, they shop with and among us. The unvaxxed and tested or quarantined residents who choose to finally escape to see loved ones or other business on mainland and return cannot be to blame for all of this increase. Plane loads coming in nonstop with tourists and the residents who dare venture off are blamed? No. Vaccinated spread too.
Residents who get it are possibly getting it on the airplane, or from their vaxxed co workers, friends, families, etc. That jab doesn’t do what people assume it does, blaming unvaxxed is ignoring the science behind how it works and how it doesn’t.
If we care about health, we must focus on the results of the pushed solution….spike proteins. In fact, those who are near the vaccinated are also at risk of their spike protein side effect of this new experimental treatment (not actually a vax) and that epidemic hasn’t been accounted for yet as their ill effects will take awhile to accumulate and the data isn’t being collected as it should to inform us of those issues. We cannot count on the media to do any investigative reporting on it deeper than approved pieces regurgitated. Medical whistleblowers all over the world are trying to warn but to deaf ears by invested parties within large organizations, and censorship czars who deny citizens access to all pertinent medical data on these very treatments, the ingredients, the issues arising.
The rest of the civilized world is up in arms about the draconian coercion to require these injections, they need to be heard. This cannot happen in America. People need to learn about the realities of these treatments and stop coercing, bullying, harassing, demeaning, excluding, and disenfranchising those who cannot or choose not to take part in the jab.
Well said! And thank you for saying it.
VERY WELL SAID! It’s about time we all
start using our intelligence and not just
let the news make us afraid and useless.
Thank you for this solid comment.
Please cite your sources.
Please start doing your own research…If you seek truth it will find you, but only IF you are able to discern it, within the deception and lies being propagated across the world.
Tonya,
I know a once Big Island Gal (living on Oahu now), who stayed/visited next door to me at my place outside of Hilo for part of one summer, a few years back. She and I had some good conversation (talked Story) and we saw many things in common that aren’t shown in the “light”. Over the last few years, we’ve stayed in touch via FB/Messenger, and oddly enough she sounds just like you, with her logical thought process and critical thinking skills. Funny, she has the same first name, and last initial too. lol 😉
It’s a no brainer, that this is exactly what’s happening, if you see with “eyes wide open”, a clear mind and a heart really open to truth and fact…🤙
In all fairness, even if Hawaii is currently on par with a lot of other states, half of it is that they’ve come down significantly due to vaccinations. We’re comparing post vaccine Hawaii numbers to other state’s post vaccine numbers. I bet at this point and going forward, the positive rate will be directly correlated with the vaccination rate more than any other factor.
Aloha,
This is absolutely been frustrating to watch, because there’s been a lot of focus in finger pointing at tourists, but the real culprit has been everybody around us. So there needs to be accountability amongst the community. And anyone who is reckless enough to fly the 9th Island, not vaccinated, and returning here to infect ohana and friends is irresponsible at best.
But, I think the focus needs to be on education so the doubters feel comfortable, because just telling people to “get vaccinated” isn’t enough.
Mahalo
Your comment about not having a heart attack in Hawaii implies that good cardiac care is limited or unavailable in Hawaii. This is very untrue. Most residents have access to excellent cardiac care, especially in Honolulu. As someone who has been in the health care field for many years, and as a consumer of cardiac care, there are good options for care among the major health systems. I have also had significant experience in Mainland health care in five different locations. While Honolulu may not have the extensive care available in LA, SF, or NYC, it compares well to cities of similar size.
While we are filling up hospitals with Covid patients, we may be forced to cut back on elective procedures, but good emergency care for a heart attack will be available.
You have also eclipsed every other State by having the highest accommodation taxes in the country.
Why is Las Vegas such a huge appeal for Hawaii residents? I’ve never figured it out. Seattle, San Fran, San Diego have a lot to offer, just to mention a couple.
Its waaaaaay cheaper than the other cities you just listed. Like 5X cheaper to buy a house.
We have enough homeless in Hawaii. Don’t need to see the homeless camps in Seattle or SF.
Vegas is mo bettah:)
Kathe L They love to gamble and the buffets. My Hawaiian friends verify this statement. Plus the shows and “perks” are also a great draw.