Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 30 of 36

This hunt began when I arrived home from work on Friday. I got a call from Carrie visiting from Birmingham, Alabama. While loading their beach gear the Rental Car FOB became lost. Not knowing exactly where in the sand it was lost her husband Dave used a scuba flipper to dig and fling the sand in hopes of finding the FOB. After digging a trench and totally exhausted they found The Ring Finders thinking I should be able to find the metal key ring. Unfortunately it was peek rush hour traffic and its dark by 6:30 here so I asked if I could come out the next morning as its along the way to Ko Olina where I was going for another hunt. She agreed. A short time later there was a missed call so I called back. It was Carrie and she was in a pinch as the rental car company wanted to charge an exorbitant price to come get the car. I agreed to bring my lights and see what I could do that night. Upon my arrival a Luau was in full swing on the beach and hundreds of people were standing and walking in the sand where the FOB had been lost. Dave assured me the Luau would be departing the beach in 10 minutes to feast on the Kalua Pig. Sure enough 10 minutes later I was able to start my grid. I was impressed in the amount of sand Dave had moved. The trench was nearly a foot deep and three times that wide. First a clad dime, then a gold plated piece of bling. Then the ground went sterile for a few laps. Finally as I was detecting the side of the trench Dave dug I got screaming target and there was the FOB. Dave shrugged his shoulders…not where he thought it would be. That « key » ring was very expensive and we all were happy it was found. Aloha to Dave & Carrie.

This ring find started when I got a call from Vince a soldier stationed in Hawaii from Lancaster, PA. While relaxing on the beach reading a book he placed his wedding band on his chest. When he got up to leave he forgot about the ring and it disappeared into the sand. He didn’t realize he lost it until he was back at his car. Vince went back to look but it was getting dark so he marked the spot and went home. He was searching for a metal detector rental and thats how he found me. I don’t rent metal detectors from my business, I’d rather provide the service myself. Works out better that way. Vince had a friend with a metal detector but that didn’t pan out so he called me back for a ring finder service. I met Vince & his lovely wife Iris at McDonalds and we proceeded from there to the remote beach. Vince took me to the area he thought the ring fell off and I started a grid search. He marked the spot previously with a seashell in the property barbed wire fence. I did a thorough grid search with only a few scrap pieces of metal found. Vince looked at the area and decided it might be farther to the East but not past the next tree. I started that grid search with only a few more coin targets. Just as I was getting to that last tree I got a great tone in my headset and one scoop down out popped Vince’s ring. Finally, and at the extreme end of the grid. Not always as we remember it! Vince & Iris were very thankful and Vince asked if he was out of the doghouse? She let him out! Oddly enough I got a text a few hours later from Vince saying someone with an Excalibur arrived at the beach shortly after I left. Lucky for us. Timimng is everything in this hobby. Aloha to Vince & Iris.

This ring find started when I got a phone call from a local Wedding photographer. His clients went to Sherwood Beach in Waimanalo for a photo shoot and while the bride was walking to the spot her Engagement Ring dropped somewhere along the path or at the site. Everyone immediately started searching but with such a vast area to cover it was hopeless. The photographer’s assistant named Mao agreed to meet me the next morning with the unfortunate Japanese couple who were on their Honeymoon in Hawaii. The next morning at 11AM Mao, Mika & Shuichi from Tokyo Japan met me in the parking lot of Sherwood Beach. Mika demonstrated and Mao translated to me how the ring was lost. I asked Mika to walk slowly to the photo shoot area and I’d follow behind with the Excalibur. The ground was surprisingly sterile of metal targets. The few detections I was able to eliminate with my pinpointer. It was a sandy area covered in pine needles and mini pinecones. I asked Mika if she held her dress up with the ring in it all the way to the wooded photo shoot site and she said, Yes. I asked her to show me that area as we weren’t having any luck along the path. The woods looked so similar there were actually two sites Mika thought could be it. I thought this would be the rings first chance to fall out. OK I’ll search them both. These areas had plenty of metal trash so I had to work through it. After covering both areas with no ring I told Mika I wanted to go back to the first site as she hadn’t had me go more towards the beach as in the second site. Also most people for the first time like to look at the surf from the nearest vantage point. It paid off. I got a loud but scratchy tone and stuck the pinpoiter into the sand as with each of the other 25-30 targets and up popped the stunning engagement ring. Wow! « I found it » I shouted out to Mika. As she came running over tears were already pouring from her eyes. It had been about 45 minutes but that must have seemed like an eternity to Mika. Suichi & Mao joined us and we had a group hug. Everyone had a smile and the elation and thankfulness shown to me was overwhelming. Even I got a lump in my throat. Mika is going home to Japan that afternoon with her ring. Honeymoon saved. Aloha to Mika & Shuichi and to Mao for thinking of the ringfinders.

This Gold Medallion hunt began when I had a text from my wife saying Lucas from Ohio needed Metal Detecting services. I called Lucas and he had returned to Kailua where he was staying while on vacation from Air Force duty in Alaska. While he was playing with his daughter in the lagoon during one of the tosses into the water her hand accidentally grabbed his gold medallion necklace and it broke from around his neck. Lucas was able to retrieve the necklace immediately but the medallion vanished in the sand of the lagoon. He searched to no avail and then when he got home Googled metal detecting service and thats where he found All Island Treasure Detectors. Lucas sent me a Google Map pin drop of the location. Ironically, I was still at Aulani from a previous search so I told Lucas I’d start the search now. I gathered my gear and headed to the lagoon. I drew two lines on the shoreline and started my grid search. After a nickel & a dime target there was a very loud quivering sound target. One scoop and there was the Medallion. It’s great when the client gives excellent locating data. Aloha to Lucas and Thank You for your service to the country.

This ring find began Friday evening when I received a call from Alex at Aulani Beach Rentals. A newlywed couple were snorkeling in the lagoon and the husband lost his wedding band. I told Alex to give my number for coordination. Then I got a call a few moments later from Robert from Middle Tennessee. Robert explained that when him and his new bride tried snorkeling. After a brief swim Robert realized his ring was gone. He panicked…when did it come off? We decided to meet at the beach the next morning. When I arrived Saturday AM Robert was waiting. Robert showed me the extreme edges of the grid and then I went to work Fairly metal sterile area. After about seven legs of the grid I heard an excellent tone and two scoops later there was Robert’s Wedding Band. I called Robert who was checking out of his room and going to breakfast. I told him the great news and we decided to meet on the beach. When Robert arrived with his wife a look of amazement was on his face. Leaving tonight and the ring back on his finger. Most important Robert is out of the dog house. Aloha to Robert and his new bride!

This ring find started with a call from the Marriot staff concerning a Japanese couple who lost their ring at the resort. They were trying to coordinate an interpreter but wanted to be sure I was available. After 30 minutes with no call back I called the Marriot looking for the couple. Rush hour traffic was fast approaching and I wanted to get on the road ASAP. The couple couldn’t be found. Then a gentleman named Kevin gave me a call and said he knew where another couple lost their ring in the sand earlier in the day and if I’d come out to find as they searched by sifting the sand with no luck. I told Kevin I was on the way and I’d call him in about an hour when I arrived. Kevin and his family met me at Longboards’ bar on the beach and we headed down to the sandy area where he had been sifting for the ring. He already gridded out the area about the size of a large automobile. First screaming target was a Lincoln zinc cent. Ten seconds later was a low growler that was sounding good. Two scoops down and there was an incredible 10 diamonds in white gold ring. Well this can’t be it there is no solitaire diamond. Kevin said he assumed it would be since he was told it was an engagement ring. I finished the grid with 11 more cents. Now to figure out whose ring I found. Kevin thought the couple may have left the resort but was going to check and see if he could find them. Meanwhile with a traffic check I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. I grabbed my phone and started playing Pokemon Go! About 10 minutes later my phone rang and it was Genelle from Coeurd’Alene, Idaho who had lost her ring. She described it exactly and asked me how I could get it back to them. I told her traffic kept me at the resort so she was in luck I was 3 minutes from them. Genelle and her husband David met me by Longboards and after showing her the ring their were several Thank You Jesus comments. I think it might have been divine intervention that kept me at the resort so Genelle could get her ring back before leaving on a flight the next day. Such grateful people. Aloha to Genelle & David and the entire McHale family for such effort in making this ring find happen.

This ring find started when I got a call from my wife stating the Ko Olina Beach Security called about a lost ring. I called and they put me in touch with Betty from San Francisco California. While she was applying suntan lotion she placed her wedding ring on her bathing suit. Then in that moment she stood up she saw the ring fall and disappear into the sand. They searched for quite some time with no success and after talking to hotel staff they suggested my services. I talked to Betty and she was going to a meeting shortly but would be available after noon. That worked perfectly for me so I told her I’d be there about oneish. I told Betty don’t keep digging as that could make it worse. I met Betty at the equipment rental shack and she walked me down to the lounge chair she was in when the ring fell. Her husband Jeff had been waiting there to keep things safe. We moved several chairs out of the way and I started my search. First target a quarter. Second target a pull tab. Third target sounded great and because Diamonds are involved I used my pin-pointer carefully in the sand. Surprisingly their digging had pushed the ring 7-8 inches down into the sand. Betty was so grateful when I handed her the ring. Jeff was as well. Betty promised me she learned her lesson not to wear rings on the beach. Well she certainly knows who to call. Let the vacation continue on a high note. Aloha to Betty & Jeff.

This ring find started when I got a call from John who was on vacation from Littleton, Colorado. While taking a dip in the lagoon the day before his Wedding Band fell off. For several hours many tourists at the resort tried searching for the ring with no luck. That’s when John got my name and number from the resort staff. I agreed to meet him at the lagoon Monday morning for a search. When I arrived John was waiting. He helped me mark the grid then I told him to relax on the beach. I headed out to chest deep water on the first leg and when I did an about face to start the return leg I got a great tone. One scoop and there was John’s ring. Elapsed time 2 minutes. Needless to say John was astonished with the quick recovery and gratefully thanked me for getting him out of the dog house. Aloha to John.