Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 11 of 36

This ring find began when I got an evening call from Kim who was on vacation from Chicago, Illinois. While relaxing on a floatie in the lagoon with her husband Ted and daughter Mila, Kim’s White Gold and Diamonds Engagement Ring slipped off her finger and disappeared into the sand in chest deep water. She initially called fellow ring finder Don and he told her to contact me as the resort’s detectorist. I checked traffic and it looked good to getting there in 35 minutes but it would be dark. Kim and her family were flying home tomorrow so I said would grab my gear and come out for a night hunt. I surely brought my headlamp as the lagoon gets pitch dark and there is little ambient light. When I arrived Ted & Kim were returning from getting their daughter some food and by then the public parking gate was locked. Ted parked outside and walked in to show me where to hunt. He was quite accurate in setting up the grid and I immediately started my search. My first target was a piece of foil. Then I went a few grid lines in silence when I suddenly got a loud « 10-11 » on the Nox. It was dark so I put my foot on the back of the coil where I had a tone and scooped from there forward. The target was in my scoop so I turned on my headlamp and there in the scoop was Kim’s stunning ring. I yelled shoreward to Ted that I got it and he was in disbelief. Ted told me he had low expectations but was obviously pleasantly surprised. We hurried back to the car where Kim was waiting. Ted showed her the ring and she was ecstatic. Kim asked, « Can I hug you? » and I said, « Of course! » Kim will now go home with her ring back on her finger. Aloha to Kim, Ted and Mila!

This ring find began when I got a text from Elaine who was on vacation from Los Angeles, California and staying at the Marriot Beach Resort at Ko Olina. She asked, « How much to find a lost ring at Na’ia Lagoon? » I responded, « Its reward based and that is up to you. » She then said her husband Marlon had lost his white gold basket weave design two days ago in waist deep water. She included some pics of the area. I agreed to hunt the next morning at low tide. When I arrived, I matched up the pics and began the hunt. As I was getting near what I thought would be the last leg I noticed a gentleman approaching me at a fast pace. I assumed it was Marlon but this guy said he lost his ring on the other side of the lagoon and was sure of the location. Not Marlon! I decided to give his ring a quick hunt and then let Marlon know I didn’t find his. The other guy then wasn’t so sure of his location and was going to check with some friends who were with him when he lost it. That hunt will be tomorrow. I called Marlon and told him the bad news but asked if he could come down so I could be sure of the location. When we walked down to the beach Marlon figured a bit more to the South would be more accurate then the pic. Sure enough on the second leg I got a banging « 13 » on the Nox right at the waters edge. In one scoop there was no doubt the basket weave design was very apparent. I texted Elaine & Marlon a pic and Marlon met me at Longboards for the return. Vacation saved! Aloha to Marlon & Elaine!

This Ring Find began when I got a call from Gurkan who lives in Seattle, Washington and was on vacation with his family staying at the Ko Olina Beach Villas near Honu Lagoon. While tossing a ball and wrestling with his son Gurkan’s Gold Wedding Band slipped off in waist deep water and disappeared. Gurkan texted me an estimated location pic and I told him I’d hunt first light the next morning. When I arrived it was still dark but the water was warm enough to start the search. Only a few Lincoln cents and a pull tab then about 30 minutes into the hunt I got a banging « 13 » on the Nox and in one scoop there was Gurkan’s Gold Band shining in the dawn’s early light. I texted him a pic and he confirmed it was his ring. We met at the beach shower area for the return. Vacation saved! Aloha to Gurkan!

This Ring Find began when I got a call from Angelina who was on vacation from Northern California and staying at the Marriott Resort at Ko Olina. While her husband Michael and his son were playing one-handed catch with a football in Nai’a Lagoon at some point his Gold & Platinum Wedding band went missing. Angelina told me he snorkeled for quite awhile looking but couldn’t find the ring. I agreed to meet Michael early the next morning so he could show me the search area. When I arrived the next morning Michael was waiting on the beach. I went down and we drew grid extremes in the sand, then I told Michael since the area was quite large to go ahead and enjoy time with his family and that I would call when/if I found the wedding band. On the third leg I got a loud tone and good numbers on the Nox and after three scoops I had a 10K gold band in the scoop but it wasn’t Michael’s so I continued on. I found a few coins and some trash then after about an hour and nearly 80% done with the search area I got another loud tone with #13 on the Nox. Then in one scoop in thigh deep water there was Michael’s ring in the bottom of my scoop. I walked back to my car and texted Angelina & Michael a pic of the ring. I immediately got a Wooowwa!!! and some happy Emojis. Angelina met me at the Longboards and escorted me to the pool area where Michael and the family was so he could be reunited with his wedding band. Everyone in the family was so gracious and thanked me for finding Dad’s ring. I truly meet some of the nicest people on these ring hunts. Much Aloha to Michael, Angelina & Family!

This ring hunt began when I got a text from Nathan who was on vacation from Los Angeles, California and was staying at the Marriott Resort near Nai’a Lagoon. He asked if I could come out to the Ko Olina Resort and find his Rose Gold Wedding Band in the dry sand. Nathan said that he gave his ring to his daughter to give to Mom while he was swimming so as not to lose it in the water. His wife put the band on her finger and as she was blowing up an inflatable floatie the ring flew off her hand into the dry sand and disappeared. They initially found my fellow ring finder Don on the website and he referred them to me as the resort’s detectorist. I told Nathan I’d grab my gear during my lunch break and head out to the resort for the recovery. Thankfully traffic was light and I made it out to the resort in a little over 30 minutes. When I arrived Nathan was waiting just inside the public parking walkway where I entered from. Nathan drew a grid in the sand about 20 feet by 10 feet and i started a grid search. There were two deep targets I knew wouldn’t be the ring so I only took one scoop to be sure. On the third target a nice loud 12-13 on the Nox and in one scoop there was Nathan’s Wedding Band. His wife said « Wow! » « That was quick you must do this often. » At least every weekend unless I get a call. Nathan & I shook hands and the vacation was saved. Aloha to Nathan!

This ring find began when I got a call from Chad who lives on Oahu and was spending the day at Ala Moana Beach Park with his wife Belinda and their three children. When the family went to pick up their beach blanket they realized Belinda’s Wedding & Engagement Rings must have fallen into the sand. They immediately began a search of the dry sand and others around them pitched in to help but the soft sand consumed the rings and they were devastated they couldn’t be found. A passerby told Chad to, « Call Joe from the Ring Finders » He should be able to find them. The passerby also warned them to stop digging as that could make the situation worse. I told Chad I’d grab my gear and be there in about 15-20 minutes. He alerted me there was no parking but we’d figure it out when I arrived. When I arrived the father-in-law watched my illegally parked car while I did a quick hunt for the rings. Both turned out well as I found the rings as the first & second target and my car wasn’t ticketed during the quick search. Double blessing and Aloha to Belinda & Chad!

This Ring Find began Tuesday, Feb 15th when I received a text from Sara who was from Las Vegas Nevada and on vacation staying with her husband at the Marriott Beach Resort. She was laying in about 1-2 feet of water near shore when her Gold & Diamonds Heirloom ring came off and disappeared. They were now home in Vegas so we started texting and exchanging photos of the area to hunt. It was early enough in the day that I grabbed my detecting gear and headed to the resort. Once there I compared pics and called Sara once more to be sure. I started the grid on the right and worked to the left. The waters were turbulent from a monster NW swell but close to shore in this corner of the lagoon it was decent. On about the fourth leg of the grid I got a nice tone on the Nox and in one scoop there was Sara’s gorgeous heirloom ring in the scoop. I immediately went ashore and texted Sara a pic of her ring. She was obviously ecstatic and very grateful I was able to recover her ring. I mailed it the next morning and you can see in the pic it’s safely home on Sara’s finger. Aloha to Sara!

This ring find began when I got a call from Nicole who was on vacation in Waikiki from Alberta, Canada. Nicole told me while her Mom was taking her ring off to remove the sand as she was pulling on the ring it popped off and disappeared in the sand. They tried with some help from other tourists to locate the ring but Waikiki’s soft sand is very good at hiding rings! Nicole googled lost ring read my blog and decided to give me the call. I told her I just returned from a hunt so it would be easy to pack up my gear and head to Waikiki. I told her I could be there in a few minutes and we could meet in front of the Moana Surfrider. I was there in a flash and Nicole escorted me down to the beach where her Mom and brother Cameron were waiting nervously for my arrival. Mom asked what could she do to assist and I said lets just move these towels and beach stuff out of the area so I can hunt. The beach was packed with tourists and every eye was on what I was doing. The first target on the Nox was a solid 12-13 and in one scopp there was Mom’s gorgeous heirloom ring in the scoop. She was overcome with joy and asked if she could hug me. I accept and give hugs regularly. It’s pure Aloha! We hugged and took a few pics. Of course all the tourists were clapping and whistling. Another vacation saved. Aloha to Nicole, Mom & Cameron!