Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 13 of 33

This Earring hunt began yesterday when I was rinsing off from a ring hunt in Ulua Lagoon. A young lady named Rosie from Mililani approached me and said a lady told her I was the resort detectorist and would help her find her lost Gold & Diamonds Earring her father had given to her. She explained the day before while swimming and playing along the shoreline with her children at some point her earring went missing. She had swum out to the buoy line in deep water but figured the earring probably came off while playing along the shore. Rosie helped me draw a grid line in the sand and I went hunting. After clearing that grid without finding the earring Rosie thought maybe a bit more to the North might give us some luck. Low and behold on the third pass I got a screaming “8” target on the Nox and in one scoop there was the beautiful sentimental earring in my scoop. Right on the shoreline where Rosie imagined. Needless to say Rosie was very relieved and extremely thankful I was able to find it. Earrings can be tough sometimes but the Nox is excellent in the water! Aloha to Rosie!

This hunt began late last night when I received a call from Lance who resides in Arlington, Virginia and was visiting friends on Oahu. While playing volleyball on the beach, Lance noticed his Brass Ganesha Medallion had fallen off but he wasn’t exactly sure when during the volleyball game it happened. Luckily he played in the same general area so the search grid was only about 5 yards by 10 yards in size. I wasn’t quite sure what numbers brass would ring up on the Nox but I figured this area of the beach is fairly clean so we dig it all. First target was an 8 but it was so small the target kept going through the netting of my scoop. Oh well! Not what I’m looking for. Next target was a 20-21 which is usually a Zincoln Cent but to my surprise there was Lance’s Brass Ganesha Medallion in the scoop. Elapsed search time 2 minutes. Another quick successful hunt. Lance by the way is a rapper and his newly released song is hitting the airwaves now. I’m a rock-n-roller so I wasn’t very enthused. But the song did have a catchy beat I’m sure the younger generation will crave for more. Aloha to Lance the Rapper!

This Ring Find began as my detecting buddy Terry & I were wrapping up our day hunting for a lost white gold wedding band in Naia Lagoon. We found a total of 4 Gold Rings but none were the one we were looking for. As I was heading to the shower a Gentleman and his wife asked if we found anything. I showed them my carabiner with the four Gold Rings attached. They both immediately said, “That’s my husband’s/my ring” as they pointed at the White Gold Ring my buddy Terry had found 4 hours earlier that morning in the lagoon. He said he could prove it as he had a picture on his phone with that ring on his finger. Sure enough he did and to be sure I asked him where in the lagoon he lost it and he pointed to the exact spot. There was no doubt in my mind it was his. As I looked towards the lagoon where he pointed there was my fellow ring finder Don exiting the water with his assistant that I don’t know. Don asked, “Did you find the ring?” and I held it up for him to see. Don had done a 5 hour hunt for the ring previously but the tide was super high and he wasn’t able to get to the spot without scuba gear. Terry found the ring at a super low tide in neck deep water. Don & I have collaborated on hunts in the past we were both just thrilled that the ring was back on the husband’s finger. We had a few laughs together and then I was asked to hunt for a just dropped Gold Cross you can see in the previous blog. I think it’s going to be a busy detecting Summer. Aloha to all involved and of course the happy couple who had their ring returned.

This hunt began as we were finishing our Saturday Naia Lagoon Search for a lost White Gold Wedding Band. As I was heading to the shower a couple on the beach asked if I found anything and I showed them the 4 Gold Rings Terry my detecting buddy and I found. Immediately the gentleman said that’s my wedding ring. I’m like, “What?” He said yes that’s my ring and he could prove it. Sure enough he showed me a pic on his phone of the exact ring and pointed in the water where he lost it and Terry found about three hours earlier. As we looked out in the water there was my fellow Ring Finder Don with his friend hunting for the ring. They had been called previously and since the tide was so high then they returned this morning to continue the hunt. Long story short a combined effort not in vain but one happy couple with the wife in tears. Don & I have collaborated on hunts over the years. While we were taking some selfies with the couple a young lady from Portland, Oregon asked if we could find her Grandpa’s lost gold cross that fell off her brother Sawyer’s necklace in about waist deep water. I said, “I got this” and proceeded to the water where the family was searching for the lost cross. I got some quick reference points and started the hunt. After a minute and on the second leg I got a nice tone on the Nox and on the second scoop there was the beautiful Gold Family Heirloom Cross. The family was so thankful and a sigh of relief was evident in all of them. What an awesome morning at the beach! Aloha to Sawyer and his Family!

This ring find began Sunday when I got a call at home from Susie who was on vacation with her family from Glendora, California. While preparing to board a flight home from the Honolulu Airport Susie told me her husband Justin had lost his Father’s Gold Family Crest Ring Thursday afternoon at Nai’a Lagoon at the Ko Olina Resort. Justin was playing on the shoreline with his son throwing a ball when the ring came off, fell into the water and disappeared into the sand. He immediately searched but the soft sand swallowed the ring and wasn’t about to reveal it’s whereabouts without some metal detecting assistance. I told Susie since the day was still early I’d head back to Ko Olina and see what I could do. Justin said the location should be ankle deep water in the center one third of the lagoon. The traffic was light and I arrived at Nai’a Lagoon around 3PM. Aloha Security opened the exit gate for me so I could enter the parking area as there was a line of cars waiting to go in. I started my search at the northern side of the center third and searched out to waist deep water and several feet up the shoreline in case Justin’s ring decided to travel. About 15 minutes into the hunt I found a Titanium Wedding Band. Keep going! A moment later I found a Tungsten Wedding Band. More to post on my website in hopes of returning. I found a few coins and then in the exact center of the lagoon in knee deep water I got a screaming 13 on the Nox and in one scoop there was Justin’s ring glistening in my scoop. Wow! That ring is very unique and if I hurry I can get a text off to the family before they land in California. Barely two hours later I got a text from Susie saying, “That is it!! Awesome! It’s my husband’s birthday and that is the best news.” I mailed the ring back Monday morning and Justin had it back on his finger Wednesday afternoon. Justin sent me a personal message about the ring and his Father that put a lump in my throat and justifies the pure enjoyment I get from this hobby. Aloha to Justin and Susie!

This bracelet find began when I returned from the mall and my wife Wendy said the phone upstairs had rung a few times but she was stuck in the kitchen prepping dinner. When I got to the answering machine their was a call from Jenny. While on vacation from California Jenny and her husband Simon were playing volleyball on the beach. While Jenny was hitting the ball her Cartier Love Bracelet came apart from a loosened screw and went flying into the sand. They found one half but after a thorough search by the entire family the other half was hopelessly hidden somewhere in the dry sand. Four Seasons Security recommended they call me. Although it was late I agreed to meet Simon and Jenny that night to recover the bracelet. When I arrived Simon met me in the parking lot and then took me down to the beach where Jenny was waiting. There was a grid pattern in the sand already marking the volleyball court so I was able to start the hunt immediately. First target was a piece of foil, then a corroded penny, then a whiskey screw top. Finally the fourth target was a #13 on the Nox and it took two scoops and 10 inches deep to recover the target. There in the scoop was Jenny’s beautiful Cartier Love Bracelet half. Vacation saved! Jenny and Simon were so appreciative that I came out so late to find her bracelet. Turns out they were originally from my home state of Pennsylvania. We had a few laughs together then bid Aloha. Aloha to Jenny & Simon!

This Ring Find began when I woke up from surgery. While I was in another world my wife got a call from Chris from Dallas, Texas. After enjoying the day swimming at Waikiki Beach two days earlier, upon exiting the water Chris’ wife Sharon was having her Gold Texas A&M ring begin to slip off her finger. She removed the ring and held it tightly in her fist. When all of a sudden a powerful wave crashed into her back and knocked her down into the shore break sand. To brace her fall her fist naturally opened and the ring fell into the surf and disappeared. She was devastated! This area near the Kapahulu Pier is a favorite of the body boarders as it’s pretty much a surf pound year around. I checked for low tide and Chris agreed to meet me at the beach at 12:30 this afternoon. The surf was still pounding but Chris drew a small enough grid in the sand I thought it would be a cinch. 45 minutes later and after a dozen pull tabs and 7 bottle caps I was very frustrated. Each target was a challenge to retrieve in the surf. Who decided to pollute the beach and party here? The ring had to be here because those targets would never have been left behind by another detectorist. I expanded the grid out in both directions but no luck. I had one last option head into the rocky coral area and see what is scoop able. This was out of the grid but near enough to come into play. Sure enough a screaming 19-20 on the Nox which I thought would be a Zincoln Cent…but nope it was Sharon’s awesome ring mixed in with a scoop of coral chunks. What a relief! I yelled over to Chris, “Got it!” He came running down to retrieve the ring from the scoop before the next wave crashed into me. Chris was so surprised and grateful he gave me a bear hug and said, “Thank you so much Joe.” Hopefully Sharon & Chris can get back to enjoying their vacation. Aloha to Sharon & Chris!

This Sentimental Silver Necklace hunt began when I got a call Friday night from Andrew who was on vacation from Murrieta, California. Before taking a swim he took his necklace off and wrapped it in his shirt and placed it on a beach towel. Upon return he put his shirt back on and then realized he forgot his necklace. He and some young lady friends searched but the soft sand must have consumed the necklace in its entirety as it was nowhere to be found. He saw two gentlemen on the beach with metal detectors but they were committed to a dinner reservation so they said, “Call Joe”. I wish I knew who they were. Since the loss was earlier that afternoon and it was now dark I was thinking someone may have found the necklace already but I told Andrew I’d be there in a few minutes and give it a shot. Being late I was able to get parking right at Queen’s Beach which never happens. Andrew and the two young ladies were waiting for me and I had Andrew draw a box in the sand where he thought the necklace would be. First target was a piece of foil and then I got a screaming 17-18 on the Nox and in one scoop there was Andrew’s silver necklace dangling from my scoop. One of the young ladies pull the necklace gently from the scoop and handed it to Andrew. He immediately put it over his head and around his neck once again. They all were in disbelief that the necklace was found. Honestly I was very surprised myself. Thankfully this vacation has a forever happy moment. Aloha to Andrew!