HONOLULU (KHON2) — From a fossilized adobe dinosaur skull in the desert to a lighthouse in Sweden that you can only access by boat, Airbnb has picked 100 out-of-this-world ideas to fund in real-life listings. Tens of thousands of entries from all over the world were sent in, with only 100 lucky recipients sharing the $10 million OMG! Funds.
And of the 100 recipients from 20 countries, only one idea was chosen for Hawaii.
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Imagine staying inside a volcano on the Big Island. From the outside it looks like a cinder cone volcano with lava about to spew from the top. The door is hidden in the form of a large rock. As you enter, the room is tinted red and orange by the stained glass skylight. The floor looks like metallic lava and the walls are pigmented limestone.
It’s a concept that Cassandra Dalla Riva, 25, will bring to life with the help of the $100,000 prize.
“My biggest goal and dream with this property is to work with the county to legally allow the earthbag structure. It’s much greener and more affordable than any traditional construction and fairly easy to build with a crew or a community,” she said.
Dalla Riva lives near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, but is originally from Florida. She moved to Hawaii about four years ago to build a small house and live off the grid. She is currently a real estate agent.
“There was an earthbag structure allowed in Pahoa in 2011, so I know it’s been done before,” Dalla Riva said. “I hope if I can do this with the county, it will be easier for other people to come after me and build legally with the super adobe earthbag system. Once it’s built, I’m excited to to have a cool and unique space to give guests an Airbnb experience like no other.
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![Cassandra Dalla Riva airbnb hawaii big volcano island]()
Cassandra Dalla Riva, 25, is the only beneficiary in Hawaii to be part of Airbnb’s OMG $10 million! Financing his idea of property on a volcano. She has 10 months to design, build and outfit her space so it will be ready for guests by summer 2023. (Courtesy Cassandra Dalla Riva) -
![Cassandra Dalla Riva airbnb hawaii big volcano island]()
Cassandra Dalla Riva, 25, is the only beneficiary in Hawaii to be part of Airbnb’s OMG $10 million! Financing his idea of property on a volcano. She has 10 months to design, build and outfit her space so it will be ready for guests by summer 2023. (Courtesy Cassandra Dalla Riva) -
![Cassandra Dalla Riva airbnb hawaii big volcano island]()
Cassandra Dalla Riva, 25, is the only beneficiary in Hawaii to be part of Airbnb’s OMG $10 million! Fund for his volcano idea. She has 10 months to design, build and outfit her space to be ready for summer 2023. These photos were used to show her concept. (Courtesy of Cassandra Dalla Riva)
Walls will be painted with smoke and texture to make guests feel like they’re truly inside the earth, with lights dripping like lava from the skylight. Guests will have to travel through an earthbag tunnel cave that opens to a light and airy bathroom where a stone whirlpool bath awaits. The off-grid property will also be equipped with simple appliances like a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and other items to make your stay comfortable.
Over the next 10 months, Dalla Riva – among 99 other recipients – will design and build the space to be ready for guests by summer 2023. It will eventually be listed in the OMG! Category here.
“When I first got the email that I first won, I thought it might be a scam, so I was waiting to get excited until he be publicly announced,” said Dalla Riva. “Although I went to CalEarth in California…to take a building course and learn the super adobe process, it was quite informative, and I think the building process will go smoothly as long as I have the right crew.”
She added that the winners will not receive the first payment until December 31, so the construction phase will begin in January.
According to Airbnb, among the tens of thousands of entries, certain natural elements and architectural features have proven popular:
- 400 ideas offered spectacular stargazing experiences
- 961 ideas marched to the beat of their own drum, incorporating the music in one way or another
- 777 juicy designs were inspired by fruit
- 680 ideas were inspired by wine
- 7,931 participants offered to use solar panels for sustainable energy
- High in the sky, 1,214 ideas involved tree houses and 389 featured suspended structures
- 509 lists inspired by mushrooms were ready to sprout from the earth
Click here to see the other 99 winning ideas.
“What an amazing journey it has been to be part of the OMG! Fund review process,” said Airbnb Superhost Kristie Wolfe. “There were so many inspiring stories and destinations that I had never heard of before. speak before that I now look forward to visiting.As a builder myself, I can’t wait to see these ideas come to life.
Wolfe knows a thing or two about unique properties. She is the host of the most sought after stay in Hawaii: Dreamy Tropical Tree House. Click here to read his story.
The OMG! The fund gives grantees the opportunity to see the economic benefits of hosting on Airbnb. Wolfe experienced this firsthand when she invested $32,000 to create her one-of-a-kind “Big Idaho Potato Hotel” property and made $208,000 in revenue in less than three years.
From 2019 to 2021, nights booked at unique properties grew by more than 49% globally, according to Airbnb, and soon Dalla Riva and others will be part of the growth when listed under the OMG of ‘Airbnb! Category here.
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“I’m certainly a bit surprised but grateful,” said Dalla Riva. “I’m very excited to start putting down the bags and making this dream a reality.”
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