Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 26 of 36

This ring find began when I got a call from Samantha on Ewa Beach. While she was changing her clothes to her bathing suit her 2 year old son made a bee line for the water at the beach. She immediately dropped what she was doing to chase down her son. In her successful efforts to stop him her Engagement Ring fell off into the water and the pounding shore surge and disappeared. I told her we needed to look right away as the sun was beginning to set and I didn’t want the ring to get tossed around all night. Samantha said we could meet at the local convenient store on the beach and walk down from there to the spot her ring came off. I was delayed a bit by traffic but still made it there before it got too dark. Samantha knew exactly where it fell off so I started a grid search there. First a pull tab. Then I got a nice ring tone but the shore surge washed it away. I knew that had to be the ring so I started expanding around that point. Nothing though. Damn! Did I lose my chance because if the ring went out into the coral it could be lost forever. On my second grid line I got the tone again and immediately scooped before the waves had a chance. Got it there in the scoop was a sparkling white gold ring with just enough twilight to see it glisten. I walked up to Samantha and handed her what I found, « Is this it? » I asked. Oh my gosh I can’t believe it. I explained how it got away from me and we were thankful it didn’t go seaward. Samantha’s husband Elawrence was stunned and extremely thankful. There were hugs all around and Samantha could now go back home to Illinois with her ring. Aloha to Samantha & Elawrence.

This ring find began on 11 July when I got a call from John who was visited Hawaii with his family and they reside in Katy Texas. While attending the Paradise Cove Luau the previous weekend John & Doty went into the lagoon to observe the Native Hawaiian Fish Net Casting event. While standing in waist deep water the waterproof pouch John was wearing broke open and all their precious items fell into the lagoon. John & Doty were able to find the cellphone and John’s Wedding Band but Doty’s Platinum Engagement and Wedding Band disappeared. After returning to Texas John located me through Aloha Security. We went on Google Maps and I asked John to split the lagoon in half and tell me which half to search in. The lagoon is small so I knew I could finish a half in about 45 minutes to an hour. After my search I found a large silver ring and some change but neither of Doty’s rings. I returned to my vehicle and gave John the news. Then John apologized and said he made a mistake and it would have been in the Southern half. He noticed the public entrance path and realized they were straight in from that point. Well after seeing Doty’s Engagement ring on her daughter’s toe I knew I couldn’t give up so I went in and did the Southern half. This half of the lagoon is very shallow and the water from the Northern half surges in and exits out the Southern side. As tiny as the rings were and the surface area exposed I figured the surge could put those rings anywhere in the Southern half. My hunch was right at the farthest out point along the rocky area. Shortly into the hunt I got a nice Platinum Tone and one scoop down there was the Engagement ring in my scoop. A few feet away I got another nice tone and there was the Wedding band. A local couple along the shore could tell I was pleased and asked, « What did you find? » I showed them the two rings and they were in awe. The gentleman offered me an ice cold Heineken which I couldn’t turn down as my throat was parched. We talked story for awhile then I needed to tell John & Doty the great news. After hearing Doty crying in the background that was all I needed. John asked if I would send the rings Express Mail and Insured which as you can see they have arrived safely back in Katy Texas. The entire family gave me a « SHAKA ». Aloha to Doty, John and the Kids!

This ring find began when I got a call from David Sheldon our Maui Ring Finder at about 7PM. He got a call from Kristi on Kailua Beach whose husband Blake lost his Platinum Wedding Band in the sand on the beach. Blake & Kristie and their darling baby Natalie were vacationing from Newport Beach California. David relayed my number to Kristi who called immediately thereafter. Kristi asked if we could meet in the morning and I told her we shouldn’t take that chance because besides Waikiki, Kailua is heavily metal detected. I told her traffic should be light enough that I could be there in less than 40 minutes. She agreed and off I went. With Summer break still going on I made it over in around 25 minutes. I think that’s a record for me! Kailua Beach has a landmark Green grocery store and Kristi said turn in there then call and she would guide me to where they were on the beach. Like clock work I could see Blake waving his hand on the beach so I rolled down my window and he said to park and he would meet me there. I gathered my gear and we all walked down to the lifeguard shack area where Blake was drying himself after a swim when the towel snagged his ring and pulled it off into the sand. I could see that they had been raking the sand for the ring to no avail. Blake said they searched for at least 2 hours. I fired up the Excalibur and started my grid search. On the second leg « BAM » there was Blake’s ring in the scoop. I love clean beaches! Blake was so excited and relieved that I found the ring so fast. They were so appreciative and there were hugs all around. Aloha to Blake & Kristi. Also a big shout out to our fellow ring finder extraordinaire on Maui David Sheldon!

This ring find began when I got a late evening call from Hope who lives in Kalihi on Oahu. While her husband Vita was exiting the ocean his Wedding Band fell off into the waves of the shore break and disappeared. Thankfully, I only live 10 minutes from Waikiki so I told Hope I’d meet her husband at valet parking. There is no other option unless you want to walk half a mile with your gear. Fifteen minutes later I was on the famous Shore Bird Beach looking for Vita’s ring in the pounding surf break. I tried down in the wave curl (Low Tide Water Mark) but no luck. Then I worked my way up the beach parallel to the shore break. On the third leg I got a nice tone and after three scoops there was Vita’s ring. Hope & Vita were so thankful and obviously relieved. Aloha to Vita & Hope.

This ring find began when I got a call on my way home from work from Eric who resides in Hawaii Kai. While enjoying a day at the beach with family his lovely wife Aida put her wedding & engagement rings in a towel for safe keeping. Unbeknownst to her sister she picked up the towel and the rings got flung into the sand and disappeared. After an exhausting search they were able to find the engagement but not the wedding ring. I met Eric in the parking lot and we walked down to the beach where the rings were lost. I could see numerous raking marks so the ring could be anywhere by now. I always tell folks to leave the sand alone and wait for the ring finder to arrive. Most don’t listen. After making my grid I started my search. Thankfully the beach sand was nicely clean and I only found to cents before I got a growling low tone. As I scooped into the sand I saw the twinkle of a diamond. I pulled my scoop away and there exposed halfway out of the sand was Aida’s wedding ring. I reached down and pulled the ring out of the sand and handed it to Eric. A sigh of relief came over him and his sister-in-law. Time to enjoy the rest of their vacation. Aida arrived from taking her baby home for some comfort after being at the beach so long and she was so grateful for the recovery. The pic says it all. Aloha to Aida & Eric!

This ring find began when I was approached by Jordan who resides in Honolulu. He saw that I was detecting and I noticed he was sifting. Jordan actually had a sifter and was scooping up the sand in various places in hopes of finding his ring. The day before after going on a hike with his wife Erika they decided to cool off by jumping into the Four Seasons’ lagoon. The King tides were coming in full force and almost immediately Jordan’s Silver Wedding Band came off. He looked for a few moments but it was so silty he couldn’t see the bottom. He remembered the area and I had him stand in the water as a marker. It was low tide now and not so bad. I searched the area thoroughly but no ring was found. Jordan was in chest deep water and we searched to waist depth. Jordan had to go to church so I told him I’d try a shallow to deep search and see if I missed a spot. Jordan told me the ring had a Koa Wood design and was engraved MARK 10:8. After he left I started my search again. On about the fifth leg in ankle deep water on the shoreline I got a great tone and there was Jordan’s ring in the scoop after three scoops. The King tide turned out to be just that; it moved his ring from chest deep water to ankle depth. The distance was a good 30-40 feet. That’s quite a distance for over night. I’ve never had a ring move that much ever! Jordan happened to be on my side of the island when I called to give him the good news. So we met at the Kahala Mall for the return. I met his lovely wife Erika and they both were so gracious and thankful. Aloha to Jordan & Erika!

This 100th Ring Find began when I got a text from Peter who is a resident at Ko Olina on Tuesday May 9th. While paddle boarding in the lagoon his wedding band came off in 12-15 feet of water. He immediately tried finding the ring with a mask & snorkel but the powdery sand in the deep part of the lagoon swallowed it whole. I told Peter I’d come over that weekend and see if I could find it on scuba. Peter said the ring was a silver metal square shaped ring. No luck on that first dive as the surf silted up the area and I couldn’t see where I had detected. I planned for the next weekend and I told Peter I’d bring a grid line to take under water to keep on track. The next weekend I laid my grid line and started the hunt. After the first leg I moved the grid line and started down the next leg. Four feet from the end of my grid I got an amazing tone and five hand scoops later there was a 14k white gold square wedding band in my hand. It was also engraved LOVE YOU COLLEEN. I called Peter and texted him a pic of the ring. Amazing he replied. No one can believe it. And all those years he thought it was silver. We met at Kahala Mall at the Jack Lord statue for the ring’s return. Aloha to Peter!

This ring find began on 31 January 2017 when I received a ring finders email from Irena who resides in Sherman Oaks California that while enjoying a day on the Kaneohe Sand Bar her husband Arun’s wedding band fell off into 1-2 feet of water. They looked for a period of time but couldn’t find the ring. You need a boat to get to the Sand Bar however mine was getting serviced and it was going to take awhile as we waited for parts. Something you get used to here…waiting for everything. Irena asked a few contacts she had but nothing panned out. Then we were in for a spell of bad weather and high surf. The days and weeks went by then I finally got my boat back. Also luckily for me since I’d never been to the Sand Bar a gentleman named Marshall that purchased a sand scoop from us « All Island Treasure Detectors » while talking story told me he had been to the Sand Bar many times over the years and knew the navigation very well. Perfect timing just the man I need! We waited for good weather and an ideal tide to spend the most amount of time on the Sand Bar as possible. Finally on 14 April Marshall and I headed out. We used Irena’s Google Maps Pin Drop to anchor the boat and start our search area. The Sand Bar is a party location and is littered with pull tabs, bottle caps and other metallic party remnants. In addition to all that I found a Silver ring and assorted coins. It came time to depart and we started the boat for departure when I noticed the « no wake » buoy just off the Sand Bar. I remembered seeing that in some of Irena’s photos so when I got back home I asked Irena to send me as many photos she could with that buoy and other landmarks in the background. On 11 May Marshall & I got another opportunity weather and tide wise to return to the Sand Bar. This time we brought Irena’s pictures and did some cross fixes to the landmarks. As you can see in the blog pics Marshall duplicated the exact view Irena provided.

I laid my red nylon cord grid line down perpendicular to the shoreline at the point Irena would have exited their boat back in January. I proceeded to detect towards the area the three beach beauties appeared to be frolicking in. Marshall went the other direction and called over that he found a White Gold Band. It only said 14K on the inside so that wasn’t it. I found a few coins, pull tabs, a Gold Sunrise Shell Earring and a tiny Gold Ring with two Diamonds. Then the Excal screamed and I knew I was about to find something really nice. That tone I will never forget. One scoop down and there in my scoop was a beautiful White Gold Wedding Band. I looked skyward and said please God let this be it. The inscription initials and date were a perfect match. I put my scoop in the sand where I found the ring and went back to my boat to get my camera to take a few pics and to send one to Irena for verification.

She texted back, Yep!!! That’s it! The next day I confirmed mailing the ring back to California and Irena texted,  » Amazing, this whole thing is so surreal. I still can’t believe it’s found. Thank you!! » As you can see the ring is back on Arun’s finger. Aloha to Arun & Irena. A big Mahalo to Marshall for helping with the navigation and encouragement!

This ring find began when I got a voicemail from Steven who was on his Honeymoon from Los Angeles, California. While trying to entice his new bride Carolina into deeper water in the resort’s lagoon Steven’s Tungsten Wedding Band came off. Steven and his lovely wife tried to find it but as usual the sand consumed the ring and they were leaving the next day. It was late so I texted Steven that I was going to be at the Resort early the next morning and we could meet so he could show me whereabouts the ring came off. The area lined up nicely with shower stand and a tree. I went back and forth underwater from shallow to deep. The depth Steven remembered was up to his chin. After several shallow passes with no target I got a screaming tungsten tone. Surprisingly to me the ring was several scoops down into the sand already. As I went to the shower to rinse off along came Steven & Carolina…I told them I found a ring and it looked as Steven had described. Sure enough Steven confirmed it was his. Another Honeymoon ends on a happy note. Aloha to Steven & Carolina!

This ring find began when I received a text from my wife as I returned from a ring find on Kaneohe Sand Bar. Miriam who lives in Waikiki told my wife she lost her Gold and Diamonds Engagement Ring in the dry sand at Makapu’u Beach the past Saturday. It’s a small beach on the East coast near Sea Life Park. I know a buddy named Steve hits that beach regularly so I thought maybe he would have found it if I don’t. I told Miriam I could meet her at the Coco Marina Center and we could drive down to the beach together to find her ring. All went as planned and we went down to the beach to hunt. Miriam wasn’t exactly sure where the ring was lost but gave me the general area which was over half a football field in size. Only one way to tackle this get moving Joe. Long story short and several targets later I got a sizzling tone and there in the scoop was a gorgeous ring. I told Miriam, « I found a ring but its much nicer than the one you described. » « That’s it », she exclaimed. Perfect lets get out of this heat. Total hunt time about 30 minutes. Miriam told me she had prayed for the ring’s recovery that morning. I assured her prayers work! Aloha and blessings to Miriam.