Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders

This ring find began when I got a text message from Stephanie who was on vacation from Arizona and enjoying the day at Ala Moana Beach Park.  As she reached down to pick up her towel, the rings that were in the towel scattered in the beach sand.  She was able to find two of them but the most coveted Yellow Gold & Diamonds Emgagement ring couldn’t be found.  I had just gotten home from work, so I called her and said I was on my way.  There was plenty of parking near lifeguard shack 1D so that was a bonus.  Stephanie drew a small grid box to hunt in so I fired up the Manticore.  The first target #22 loud perfect dot on the VDI.  One scoop and BINGO ring found.  Elapsed time 15 seconds!  Aloha to Stephanie and you are going home with your wedding ring!

This ring find began when I got a text from Michelle that read, « Hey I’m on waimanalo beach and have lost my wedding ring. Is that something you help with? »  I immediately called Michelle and found out she was visiting from Salt Lake City, Utah and assisting her father in moving his home on island.  While enjoying the day at Waimanalo Beach, Michelle reached to return hit a volleyball and her White Gold & Diamonds Engagement ring flew off and disappeared in the sand.  After several hours sifting the sand through a box sifter it became obvious they weren’t going to find the ring without a little metal detecting.  I told Michelle I would grab my gear and head over and that they were about 30 minutes away.  When I arrived the first thing I noticed was a box sand sifter and a pile of sand.  They had been working hard but the ring was no where to be found.  I fired up the beast and started a grid search.  First target was a wine bottle cap.  Then I got a solid perfect dot #27 on the VDI and in one deep sccoop there was Michelle’s gorgeous ring.  A few hugs later and the joy on her face proved once again why I love this hobby so much.  Aloha to Michelle!

 

This ring find began when I got a call from Jeric’s Mom.  Her son Jeric from Roseville, California was on vacation in Hawaii celebrating his Grandma’s 100th Birthday.  Jeric had just received his new Platinum Wedding Band from his lovely wife six days ago and while playing with his children in the cool waters of Ulua Lagoon he looked down and noticed it had disappeared.  Thankfully, he hadn’t moved around too much in the water so the ring was in a relatively small area to hunt.  My quitting time was 40 minutes away so I told them I would grab my gear and head right over. When I arrived Jeric showed me the location in the water and I began the hunt.  A few coin targets and some foil then a Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant I had been looking for at least a month.  It sure was far away from where it was supposed to be.  Then on the next grid line coming into shore I got a nice tone and in one scoop there was Jeric’s Platinum Band.  I yelled to shore that I had found it and several family members joined us on the beach to see the recovery.  Cheers & handclapping was heard all around and Jeric was certainly relieved.  Enjoy the rest of your special family vacation.  Aloha to Jeric!

This ring find began when I got a call from Josh who is on his Honeymoon from Portsmouth, England and staying at the Aulani Resort with his lovely wife Jaz.  On Sunday, while seated in the cool shallow waters of the lagoon, Josh felt his Yellow Gold Wedding Band slip off and disappear into the sand.  They hunted for the ring but with the surf up in the lagoon it was impossible to see.  While talking to the resort personnel they were told about my recovery service.  I told Josh I would head over as soon as I finished work.  When I arrived Josh & Jaz met me on the beach and showed me the area to hunt.  I found a few coins, a pull tab and an earring.  About a third of the way through the grid I got a nice tone near shore and after two scoops there was Josh’s shiny new Gold Wedding Ring in the scoop.  I let Josh & Jaz reach into the scoop to ensure the ring I found was his and of course it was.  Honeymoon saved and much deserved relief after four days.  Aloha to Josh & Jaz!

 

This ring find began when I got a text from Amy who was on vacation from Murrieta, California and staying at the Marriott in Ko Olina.  She said her husband Ryan was swimming in the lagoon and while making an adjustment on a floatie his Platinum Wedding Band fell off and disappeared in the sandy bottom of the lagoon water the day before.  The water was only about waist deep but impossible to see.  Ryan assumed it was lost forever!  I called and told Amy I could be there that afternoon around 1:30.  She said they would be on the beach.  When I arrived Amy showed me the area to search and I fired up the Manticore for my grid search.  I started a little to the North and worked South.  When I was nearing the center of the grid going up onto the wet sand I got a nice loud tone and after one scoop there was Ryan’s Band in the scoop.  The rough waves actually threw the ring up onto the shoreline.  I motioned towards Amy and she was in disbelief I think that the ring was found so quickly.  Also, Ryan was just making his way down to the beach and Amy was able to put the ring back on his finger.  What a wonderful family and I was thankful to be able to save the vacation.  Aloha to Ryan, Amy & Family!

This ring find began when I returned from a hunt at Aulani Lagoon.  Shannon on vacation from Mt. Airy, Maryland left a voicemail saying his wife Kelly lost two White Gold & Diamonds Wedding Rings in the dry sand of Ulua lagoon.  While applying suntan lotion Kelly had taken off her rings and placed them on a beach chair.  Then as she went to adjust her chair the rings flew off into the sand and disappeared.  They had looked carefully but they were out of sight.  I told Shannon I would be over from the other lagoon in a moment and he told me there location on the beach.  As I headed down to the beach Shannon noticed me with my gear and waved me over.  We moved a beach chair out of the way and I started a grid search.  On the second leg I got a nice #10 on the Manticore and in one gentle scoop there were Kelly’s beautiful rings lying together in the scoop.  I let her reach in and retrieve them.  Shannon stated that wasn’t where they were looking and realized Kelly really adjusted that beach chair with some force.  All good, vacation saved.  Aloha to Kelly & Shannon!