Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 5 of 36

Lost White Gold Wedding Band at Outrigger Canoe Club Beach…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a text from Kai who lives in Aina Haina on Oahu.  His text said Happy New Year and if I could help him find his ring in the dry sand at Outrigger Canoe Club Beach.  He had it in his hat but at some point it went missing on the beach.  I told Kai I could grab my gear and head down.  He said he was a guest at the club and that he could get me parking there.  I rushed down and Kai met me in the parking garage.  We headed down to the beach where I met Kai’s lovely wife Larissa and a few friends.  Kai drew a grid in the sand for me to hunt and I began.  This area hadn’t been hunted for awhile so I had to clean up some tin, two pennies and a quarter.  Then I got a nice solid slightly high tone and after two scoops there was Kai’s White Gold Wedding Band in the scoop.  I said this isn’t it is it?  Oh yeah that’s it and an applause went up on the beach.  Great way to start the New Year.  Aloha to Kai & Larissa!

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Lost White Gold Wedding Band at Honu Lagoon Ko Olina Resort…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a call from Aloha Security.  They had the contact number for Angelo who was on vacation from Half Moon Bay, California and just lost his White Gold Wedding Band at Honu Lagoon.  I called Angelo and he told me he was playing volleyball with his daughter Jaymie and he believed his ring had come off while diving for the ball.  He assured me it was either in the wet sand or no deeper then ankle height water.  I told Angelo I’d pack my gear and head right down.  Take a little longer then 1/2 hour.  When I arrived Angelo his wife Lauren and Jaymie were waiting.  Angelo drew a box in the sand for me so I started dry and worked towards the wet.  Just as I worked into the wet shoreline I got a nice “47” scream on the Manticore.  I had to scoop three times to get the target out of the hole but when I rinsed the scoop it was empty.  As I moved toward the hole I saw the White Gold Band laying on the surface and scooped it up for Angelo who had been watching the hunt.  Vacation saved and a big Happy New Year Aloha to Angelo, Lauren & Jaymie

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Lost Gold and Diamonds Wedding & Engagement Rings at White Plains Beach…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a text from Audrey who lives in Makakilo on Oahu. Her text said she found me on Facebook and that she lost her Gold & Diamonds Wedding and Engagement rings at White Plains Beach the day before.  It was getting late, but I didn’t want the beach to experience a metal detectorist or another high tide so I called her and we agreed to meet as soon as I could get there.  When I arrived Audrey was waiting and she took me to the spot on the beach.  Most of the area was dry but it did extend down into the wet sand.  This beach has a tremndous slope and it will pull a ring down into never never sand.  First target was a piece of pull tab.  Then on the second leg I got a double target with a 27 on the Manticore.  The high tide did bury the rings as it took four scoops to get the first one which was the engagement.  Then a mere 8 inches over I had popped out the wedding band.  Mission accomplished and a very happy local girl with tears of joy on her face.  Aloha to Audrey and a Happy New Year.

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Lost Heirloom Gold with Opal & Diamond Ring at Honu Lagoon Ko Olina…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a call from Anchorage, Alaska.  The gentlemen told me his girlfriend Hannah was at Honu Lagoon and lost an heirloom ring her grandmother had given to her.  He said the resort Security Team had given him my number.  Knowing the surf was going to be pounding tomorrow and Lagoon 2 takes the brunt of the swell I asked him if Hannah could call and meet me on the beach ASAP.  He said she was very distraught about losing the ring but he would have her call.  She did a moment later and I could tell by her voice she had been crying about the loss.  I told her I’d grab my gear and be right down after I got a few details from her.  Thankfully traffic was minimal and I got there in about 45 minutes.  I called from the parking lot when I arrived and Hannah and her parents were on the beach already.  Hannah wasn’t exactly sure when the ring came off but she figured it was when she was throwing a football.  She gridded that area for me and I started the hunt.  The area was rather large so it took about 45 minutes.  No luck there so Hannah showed me where they were throwing the ball in shallow water.  That took another 45 minutes and still no ring.  Hannah assured me I hunted in all the places and it was getting dark. I started talking about scuba another day and Hannah showed me a side angle shot of the ring.  She said it was a chunky gold ring!  She did mention snorkeling so I asked her to show me where she entered and exited the water.  I might as well try there since the surf was negligble.  On the second leg of what would of been a five leg search right on the shoreline I got a solid screaming target on the Manticore.  The numbers were good too.  It took at least three scoops and when the sand rinsed out of the scoop a chunky gold ring was shining in what was left of the daylight.  I called over to Hannah “I think I got your ring…please tell me it is.” I handed her the ring and a rush of joy came over her.  She was so thankful and extremely relieved.  I can only imagine how she felt getting her grandma’s ring back.  Hannah’s parents joined us on the shoreline and we had a few hugs and laughs.  That was a two hour hunt with the sun going down quickly.  The lord blessed us on this recovery the day after Christmas.  Much Aloha to Hannah, her boyfriend and parents.

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Lost Tungsten Wedding Band Kuhio Beach Waikiki…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began just as I finished dinner when Giovanni who was on vacation from Maryland texted, “Are you available to retrieve a lost ring on Oahu?  We are here until Friday.”  I immediately called knowing the sundown hunters would be combing the beach.  Gio told me he was in waist deep water at the Kuhio Beach lagoon when while catching a football his silver colored tungsten Wedding Band came off and disappeared in the sand.  A few beachgoers pitched in but were unsuccessful in finding the ring.  I told Gio I would grab my gear and head down to the zoo to park and we could meet at the beach.  After I parked Gio and his lovely wife Shelia met me in the parking lot and we drove to a near by parking spot near where the ring came off at Kuhio Beach.  Gio directed me to the spot he was thinking 5 feet from the breakwater.  It was pitch dark but I was able to use the hotel windows and the wall as markers.  I hunted along the wall to about 15 feet from the wall.  On the return leg I found a screaming 14K Rose Gold Wedding band but not Gio’s ring.  I went back ashore and discussed the depth of the water and Gio figured he must have been farther away from the wall.  It was pitch dark but the Manticore light was enough to see what I was doing and I decided to try an in and out grid to get more distance from the wall.  On about the fourth leg I got a screamer on the Beast and in two scoops Gio’s large size Tungsten Band was in the scoop.  Gio and Shelia were very appreciative of the successful hunt and drove me back to my car at the zoo.  We had a few laughs and a hug and they promised me a selfie when they got back to their room.  See those smiles above…its what I love!  Aloha to Giovanni and Shelia!

 

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Lost Platinum & Diamonds Ring at Nai’a Lagoon Ko Olina…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a call from Chad who was on a family vacation from Bountiful, Utah and staying at the Marriot Beach Club at Ko Olina.  While Chad and his lovely wife Wendy were playing catch with a football in the shallow waters of Nai’a Lagoon, Wendy noticed her ring was missing from her finger.  Not knowing exactly when it fell off the search area was rather large but only waist high and the tide was going out.  Chad passed the phone to Wendy for some more details about the search.  I just had lunch arrive but as soon as I was finished I told Wendy I’d pack up and be right over.  Traffic was excellent so the ride from Kaimuki to Ko Olina was just over 30 minutes.  When I arrived Wendy & Chad showed me on the beach where to start and the grid search began.  After about 30 minutes I got a nice tone and there in the scoop was a yellow 14k gold ring but not Wendy’s.  Wendy and Chad came down to the beach and I showed them what I had found.  Obviously not what they wanted to see but I was getting close to the end of the search area and getting hopeful.  About 4 more grid lines.  Then on the second to last grid line I got another amazing tone on the Manticore and on the second scoop Wendy’s stunning Diamond packed Platinum ring was finally recovered.  I yelled over to them in the beach chairs, “Got it for sure this time!”  Wendy and Chad were exhaustedly relieved and we shook hands and hugged.  Me wishing I had started from the other end and not making them wait so long.  Success is bliss!  Much Aloha to Wendy & Chad!

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Lost Gold & Diamonds Engagement Ring at Royal Hawaiian Beach Waikiki…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a text from Andrew who was on work travel to the islands as a sports photographer from Knoxville, Tennessee.  While enjoying the Royal Hawaiian beach with his lovely wife Jessica her Gold & Diamonds Engagement Ring went missing when she discovered it gone in their hotel room.  They had the where withall  to go back to the spot on the beach and begin a search.  After that attempt Andrew googled lost ring Waikiki and found theringfinders website.  I had just gotten home from work and since this was a dry sand search I told Andrew I’d load up my gear and get there as quick as possible.  No traffic and no parking issues so I arrived about 20 minutes later.  Jessica explained the circumstances of the loss and the most likely place would be where she shook off her beach towel.  Thankfully, that area was free of sunbathers so I was able to start an immediate grid search.  I could tell Jessica was devastated and had been crying so I wanted this to be quick find.  On the second leg of the search I got a solid #16 on the Manticore.  I looked over at the two of them and said I think we have it.  It took two scoops but no doubt there was Jessica’s beautiful Engagement Ring in the scoop.  I let her reach in and recover it as cheers went up on the beach.  There was some clapping and whistling and someone told Jessica that took 2 minutes and 32 seconds.  Not my fastest, but right up there.  I actually turned my detector on once and the ring was directly under the coil!  We shared a few hugs and Andrew said thanks for being our Hero! I don’t know about that but I sure do enjoy a successful hunt.  Aloha to Jessica & Andrew!

 

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Lost Sentimental Silver Ring at Kahala Beach…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a text from the Kahala Hotel and Resort Concierge asking if I was available for a guest’s lost ring recovery at the beach in the water.  I responded that I was currently on a ring hunt and could be reached in about an hour and to give their guest my contact number.  While driving home from that successful recovery I got a call from Sune who was visiting Oahu from Copenhagen, Denmark.  As he was starting to swim the backstroke his Sentimental  Silver Ring fell off in chest deep water.  He borrowed a mask and snorkel but the water was too murky to see anything.  I told Sune since it was getting late I’d get on the tide chart at my home computer and call him back for the best time to hunt the following morning.  It so happened sunrise at 6:30 would be the beginning of a low tide and we agreed to meet in the hotel lobby.  When I arrived Sune showed me the area he was in and it was perfectly calm water although the surf was breaking on the outer reef.  Anyone who knows this beach it gets mucky in many spots and difficult to keep on a grid.  I decided to start shallow and work deep parallel to the shore.  I asked Sune if the depth I was at would be good and he said lets start a little bit shallower.  So I did.  I started the grid search and my first target was a nice high tone.  I took a scoop and as the scoop broke the surface I had a wad of gray muck and green algae in the scoop.  I got a glimpse of a silver shine and as I pulled the goop out of my scoop the silver ring was tangled in the algae.  OMG!  Had Sune not told me to go that little bit shallower I would have hunted for hours and not found it.  These Kahala Beaches have played many tricks on me in the past and each time the ring had been found more shallow then expected.  As you can imagine Sune was so grateful to have his sentimental ring back before he flies to Los Angeles this evening.  Aloha to Sune!

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Lost Gold Wedding Band at Makapuu Beach Park…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring find began when I got a text from Jimmy who was on vacation from Vancouver BC Canada.  The text said, ” I could use your services.”  I immediately called and Jimmy told me while shaking out his towel he had forgotten he had put the ring there and it got flung out into the sand and disappeared.  I told Jimmy I’d grab my gear and meet him in the parking lot of Makapuu Beach park.  When I arrived 20 minutes later Jimmy took me down to the area the ring was lost.  I could see in the sand where he had been raking his fingers in hopes of finding the ring.  I fired up the Manticore and started a grid search.  First target was a bottle cap.  It sounded soooo good!  Next target sounded even better and was a perfect dot on the 2D display.  In one scoop there was Jimmy’s ring.  I could see the look of relief on his face.  He said, “Thank you for saving my vacation!”  Aloha to Jimmy!

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Lost Gold with Black & White Diamonds Wedding Band at Ulua Lagoon…FOUND!!!

  • from O‘ahu (Hawaii, United States)
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This ring hunt began when I was called by Megan who lives on Oahu with her husband CJ.  She had purchased a detector from Walmart and went to Ulua Lagoon to try and find CJ’s Yellow Gold with Black & White Diamonds Wedding band in shallow water.  He lost it the day before playing with his young daughter in the water.  The metal detector she purchased at Walmart would start chirping in the wet sand and was impossible to use in the water.  Phil from Aloha Security Team saw her struggling and went down to the beach to let her know one she wasn’t allowed to detect the beach and second that they had a guy who would find it for her.  Relieved someone was available she called me and I just happened to be finishing a scuba hunt at Four Seasons but unfortunately I only had my scuba detector.  However, I was going to squat and do whatever I could as she thought it was only ankle to knee deep.  The hunt was unsuccessful.  I told her I would return the next morning to hunt.  When I arrived and the sun came up the area I needed to hunt was plastered with Box Jellies alive and dead.  I stopped counting at around 80!  I texted Megan we would have to wait two days.  Once I got home I started thinking about the unauthorized detectorist we found at Lagoon 4 and I decided I’ll put on my 3 mil wetsuit and booties and go dodge the jellies.  This morning I only saw a dozen or so but I was fully protected.  I started the hunt and on about the 6th leg I got a nice tone on the Nox 800 in knee deep water.  After one scoop there was CJ’s stunning ring in the scoop.  We met at the Hickam AFB Post Office for the return.  CJ was extremely thankful and I found out we served on the same ship USS George Washington CVN-73,  although many years apart.  Much Aloha to CJ & Megan!

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