Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 25 of 36

This ring find began when I got a call this AM during the football game. It was Jamie from Kailua who had me recover his ring at Kaimana Beach last December. This time he was running and wrestling with his dog on Kailua Beach when he noticed his ring had come off. Jamie said Joe I need your services again. He had looked quite awhile for the ring himself but the sand as usual consumed it. We met at Jamie’s house and cruised down to Kailua Beach. Jamie took me to the spot he was wrestling with his dog and I started my grid search. After a few coins I got a great low tone and one scoop down there was Jamie’s ring. Elapsed time about 7 minutes. I told Jamie I never wanted to see him again. He just smiled and laughed that’s for sure. Aloha to Jamie!

This ring hunt began when I got a tearful cry at work from Keyara who lives in Kapolei Hawaii. While sitting in shallow water with her daughter her gorgeous engagement ring fell off. She reached for it but the sand instantly gobbled it up. While searching on her phone for a ring recovery she came across my contact info first. I told her I could leave work a little early and come out and retrieve her ring. Shallow water should be a cinch! When I arrived Keyara’s husband Tony took me down to the beach and showed me where Keyara was in the water and I began my search. Several coins and a pull tab after about 20 minutes I was beginning to think the target location had to be off. Tony assured me the location was correct. There was really no surge in the lagoon to speak of so on my own I expanded the search grid out in a northerly direction and “BOOM” there was a great platinum tone and one scoop down there was Keyara’s ring. Tony was in shock as he thought his area was correct. No matter the ring is safely and happily back on Keyara’s finger. Aloha to Keyara & Tony!

This ring find actually began on Friday August 25th when I got a call from Daniel who lives in Sacramento California and was attending a convention on Oahu. While playing catch with a football on the beach his brother Albert caught the ball but in doing so his Gold Wedding Band flew off into the dry sand. The brothers attempted looking for it but with darkness fast approaching Aloha Security told them to call me. It was dark when I arrived but Daniel’s phone and the bright moon was enough to see what we were doing. They had drawn a grid in the sand for me prior to getting there so I was able to go to work immediately. I searched the entire grid and the ring wasn’t in it. Daniel had me expand the search towards the grass but still no ring. It couldn’t have just disappeared! I started expanding the grid search in the other direction and “Ka Pow” that signal blew my ears off. A second later and one scoop down there in the moonlight was Albert’s Gold Ring in my scoop. Daniel couldn’t believe it was so far away from where Albert had caught the ball. Albert had already left to tell his wife he lost the ring so the brothers were joking Albert just might get out of trouble tonight after they meet up at their rooms. As you can see Albert is quite the ham but happy to have his ring back. Aloha to Albert and his brothers!

This ring find began when I got a call from Steve who lives near Diamond Head on Oahu. While his son was throwing a football back to his wife on the shoreline at the beach his platinum wedding band flew off into the water. They searched with goggles for awhile but the incoming surf was too much and buried the ring. This beach is very small and Steve knew the approximate location and the details of the loss. I told him we could meet after work and hunt for his son’s ring. When we arrived Steve demonstrated what had happened and I started my search. It was only about waist deep water at the deep end but the bottom was littered with rocks that kept interfering with my detector’s sweep. I covered the area thoroughly but didn’t find the ring. Steve got a call from his wife and had to leave. There was another ring lost in this area so I decided to continue my grid search. I was seconds into the search when I got a nice tone and there was a platinum ring in my scoop that looked just like the pics Steve had shown me. Luckily he hadn’t gotten all the way down the path and I shouted his name. He turned around and I yelled I think I found your son’s ring. He came back and verified it was the one. Then he said “Joe your the real deal” Thank you very much! He was going to surprise his son and the wife I’m sure it will be a joyous surprise. Aloha to Steve!

This ring find began when I got a Facebook message from Falon who lives on Kaneohe Marine Corps Base with her husband Jeremy. I responded and Falon called and explained to me that three of her rings fell into the dry sand at Pyramid Rock Beach and they were only able to find two of the three. I told Falon it was still early enough that I would shoot over to the base and hunt for her ring. She was ecstatic that I would come so fast. Falon’s husband Jeremy met me at the base McDonald’s and then drove down to the beach. Jeremy took me to the exact spot as we could still see the finger raking marks in the sand. It was pitch black but my head mounted light was plenty candle power. In less then one minute I got a great tone and their was Falon’s ring in the scoop. Jeremy couldn’t believe his eyes and was ready to rush home and show Falon. Aloha to Falon & Jeremy!

This ring find began when I got a text from Nichole who lives in Hawaii Kai on Oahu. While she was enjoying a day at Ala Moana Beach park with her husband Keli’i and their two young sons; Keli’i asked her to hold his ring while he went in the water. She was going to secure it in her purse but got distracted and put the ring on her thumb while playing with their youngest son. At some point the ring came off and she wasn’t positive whether it was in the sand or the water. I started my grid search in the dry sand working towards the water line. A few coins, an aluminum toe ring and two pull tabs later I was at the waters edge. I told Nichole to take me to the extreme left edge of the grid and I would work towards the right. Nichole acted as my shore marker and Keli’i stood at my last dry sand mark. I worked out to waist deep water and back to the shoreline. A few more coins kept me encouraged that no other detectorist had been in the area for awhile…we had a chance. Then as Nichole and Keli’i were about to meet on the shoreline I got a great tone in between them. One scoop down and there was Keli’i’s ring. No doubt with the engraved Hawaiian style. I could tell Nichole was holding back tears. That’s OK joyous tears they would be. Aloha to Nichole & Keli’i!

This ring find began this morning at work when I got a text from Vanessa who hails from Trinidad and now lives in Honolulu. Vanessa wanted to know what I charge for finding rings as she found me on the internet. During my coffee break I told her it was reward based and it would be up to her. Since this was a dry sand hunt I told her it should be fairly simple. What happened was she was enjoying the day at the beach with her children when her daughter Adelle asked her to watch her ring. Vanessa put it in the chair pocket with her keys. After the days outing they went back to their car and Vanessa realized she had taken out her keys but the ring was no where to be found. They went back to the area but didn’t find it. I told Vanessa we could meet after I got off work and go down to the beach to find Adelle’s ring. This ring was extra special as Vanessa’s father made it for her daughter which was an identical ring her grandmother had. We drew a grid and I began the search. First leg was a dime and just as I started the second leg I got a nice low tone and there in the scoop was this fascinating hand made rosary ring. Vanessa admitted she had little hope I would find it so it was obvious she was overcome with joy. Many thank yous and a hug showed her gracious appreciation. She now has a new found faith in metal detecting and said she couldn’t wait to leave a comment. Aloha to Vanessa & Adelle!

This ring hunt began while I was about to enter Lagoon 1 on Scuba. A gentleman named Troy from Arlington, Virginia just lost his ring in waist deep water while playing catch with his sons in the water. I told him I’d give it a go once I completed the dive for another ring. After completing the dive without a find it felt good to find Troy’s ring just about where he thought it had fallen off. Quick & Easy! Aloha to Troy!

This ring find began on July 24th when I got a call from Darian who lives in Fairfield, California. While enjoying the day at the resort with her boyfriend Jon, Darian put her rings in the chair pocket and when she left forgot about them until she got back to their room. She & Jon went back to the beach but couldn’t find the rings in the sand and that’s when Darian called me. She was leaving the next afternoon so texted me some photos and a video of the approximate area she thought the rings would have fallen out. I got to the resort around 2PM and started a grid search. I found the gold dolphin ring fairly quickly but the silver ring never showed itself. We’re guessing that one was spotted and taken. I was able to text Darian the half good news before her flight took off and promised to look one more time for the silver ring which I still didn’t find. In any case the Gold Dolphin ring is back in California with Darian and she was very happy for that. Aloha to Darian & Jon!

This ring find began when I got a call from David who was visiting Hawaii and staying at the Turtle Bay Resort. The family is from Las Vegas, Nevada and they went to the beach to take some family photos. While there David’s daughter Emma lost here silver ring he gave to her years ago in the dry sand. After a period of time searching they googled “lost ring” and that’s where I came in. The 50 mile drive to Turtle Bay is an epic North Shore cruise I enjoy doing and I made it there in about an hour and a half. David took me to the area and on the second leg of the grid there was his daughter Emma’s ring. Quick recovery happy daughter & father. Aloha to David & Emma.