lost ring Ko Olina Tag | Page 11 of 35 | The Ring Finders

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!

This ring find began when I got a text from Elaine who lives in Ewa Beach on Oahu. While enjoying the waters of the lagoon her White Gold and solitaire Diamond Engagement ring went missing. She wasn’t exactly sure when it came off but thankfully was only in a small area on the beach and in the water. She sent me pics of the area marked and one of the ring. I told Elaine I’d hunt the next morning. When I arrived the next morning as the sun was rising I entered the water at the left side of the grid and worked to the right. Thankfully this year the waters at Ko Olina have remained quite warm. I walked out to chest deep water and back up the shoreline on each leg. As I was nearing the end of the grid (Like the last leg) I finally got a loud target near shore and in one scoop there was Elaine’s beautiful ring in the scoop. We met up this morning for the return. Love the smiles. Aloha to Elaine.

This ring find began when I got a call from Ray saying his husband Mike had lost his Platinum with Black Diamonds & Blue Sapphires Wedding Band in the dry sand on Waikiki Beach, just in from the Duke Kahanamoku Statue. They arrived from New York and were celebrating their one year Anniversary. I told Ray we could meet at the Waikiki Police Station and he could show me where on the beach to look. I arrived about 20 minutes later and we walked down to the beach area. To my surprise there was a 4 inch deep square box emptied of sand where they had been sifting the sand through a net in hopes of finding the ring. That had taken a few hours. Mike told me before he went in the water he wrapped his ring in a T-Shirt and when he returned he opened the shirt forgetting that moment the ring was inside, it fell out and disappeared somewhere in the sand. I asked Mike to draw a grid in the sand and essentially it was the 30 by 20 foot box where they had removed the sand. I started the search and on the first grid East & West I didn’t find the ring only a bullet casing and a few coins. I asked which direction I should extend the grid and they agreed towards a palm tree. I decided since there were no tourists in our area I should extend in every direction possible. I started the expanded grid North & South this time and on about the fifth pass I got a loud #16 on the Nox and in one scoop there was Mike’s unique ring in the scoop. It was actually out of the original grid and in the opposite direction of the palm tree. Sadly I thought, all that sand sifting from the wrong area. Regardless, Anniversary saved! Aloha to Mike & Ray.