After high school, a common path taken by graduates tends to follow continuing education or joining the workforce. For Sarah Poncelow, graduating member of Wessington Springs High School Class of 2023, the latter was her plan, however, her journey has led to a rather unique workforce experience. Since November 2024 Poncelow has found herself 3,661 miles from Wessington Springs, working at the Pu’u O Hoku Ranch located on the fifth largest Hawaiian island, Molokai.
The Pu’u O Hoku Ranch is a family-owned biodynamic and organic ranch, farm, and rustic retreat center on the remote east end of Molokai, Hawaii. Surrounded by more than 14,000 acres of protected land the ranch is immersed in the transcendent beauty of forest, sky and ocean.
“I have really loved living and working in Hawaii, it’s practically my dream job,” said Poncelow. “I had a pretty bad day at my previous job and went online to look for something else. This opportunity popped up and I thought that Hawaii would be really nice in the winter, so I applied,” she explained.
Growing up in rural South Dakota, a love of animals, especially horses, has played an integral role in her life. For Poncelow, the pull toward working with and around horses felt natural to her.
“I am basically just a ranch hand. I do chores in the morning and if there are no guest rides, I work with and train the horses. If we have a guest ride, I saddle the horses before the guests arrive and take them through a safety briefing before we get started. I take them on a guided tour of the ranch and up into the mountains,” shared Poncelow.
The island of Molokai is a rural Hawaiian island full of natural beauty. The community is rooted in traditional Hawaiian values, giving visitors a look at what Hawaii was like before modern-day tourism.
“I do a lot of hiking up into the mountains and swimming in the ocean. The water is crystal clear and great for snorkeling,” said Poncelow. “The island itself is so secluded and overgrown with trees and shrubs. My favorite thing to do is go exploring on horseback or go hunting.”
The island is home to 30,000 - 50,000 axis deer, a species that pose a major threat to the environment and the economy of the island. Many hunters and food enthusiasts claim that their meat is among the best venison available.
“I live in my own little secluded cabin on the ranch with my poi (mutt) dog, Moose. Everything is built to be open and embrace nature. I take the shared ranch vehicle over an hour to a town a little bigger than Wessington Springs for supplies, errands and groceries. Because I live in a secluded area, I only get to town once every week or two.”
“It hasn’t been too hard being away from home, but I do miss my family quite a bit. My brother (Sam) is a senior this year and I kind of feel guilty missing his last year of high school. I am fairly limited with cell service so I really haven’t been able to watch his games, but I definitely plan on being back for graduation.”
With her six-month contract up in May, Poncelow said that she may extend her stay. “ I really love it here. At this time, there is a large possibility that I extend my contract and continue working here. I love the weather, the culture, and exploring the area. Everything is so different and I love seeing how life is outside of South Dakota.”