Joe Au-Franz, Author at The Ring Finders

This ring find began during the Summer, when a gentleman named Mike, who was on vacation from Alberta, Canada and staying at the Aulani Resort approached me on the beach and asked if I could hunt for his Size 15 Oura eRing.  I proceeded to hunt the areas he thought it might be lost but I was unsuccessful during that hunt.  Fast forward to October after the Aulani Resort performed a beach sand restoration project I was walking in shallow water when I got an unusual tone on the Manticore.  After one scoop there was a huge Man’s Oura eRing in the scoop.  I remembered Mike and texted him in Canada if this was the one he had been looking for?  His response, “OMG!  Yes it is.”  We arranged for a return via the Postal Service and Mike sent me this picture today from his home in Canada.  BRRR!  It looks cold there but still got a Shaka.  Never give up the hunt.  Aloha to Mike!

This ring find began when I got a text this morning when I woke up saying, “Aloha Joe, I found your number on ring finders.  Friday 10/03, about 5pm I went swimming in the Aulani Lagoon and lost my wedding band.  I had my niece on my back and they wanted to swim out a lil bit and it slipped right off my finger.  I read about all your experience and testimonials.  I live on the island,  Kapahulu side.  My family and I tried our best to snorkel and look for the ring but we had no such luck.”  Kapahulu is just down the street from me, so I called Whitney to get the details of the ring and lost location.  To my surprise she described the stunning ring I had found the morning before, Saturday at Aulani.  I hadn’t posted anything about this find yet and she described the ring and location perfectly.  She was at work and we agreed to meet afterwards for the return.  Whitney was so grateful to have her stunning ring back as you can see in her smile above.  Aloha to Whitney!

This ring find began when I got a call from Paul from Temecula, California and was celebrating his 25th Anniversary at the Ko Olina Resort.  Paul told me he was standing in knee deep water as his wife was taking his picture and a wave hit him and the 25th Anniversary Gold & Turquoise Ring, his wife had just given him, fell off into the shallow water and disappeared in the soft sand.  After trying unsuccessfully, the resort security gave him my number for the recovery.  I agreed to meet him that evening as I had a scuba dive hunt the next morning in a different lagoon.  When I arrived, Paul took me down to the shoreline to show me the area to hunt.  On the third leg of the grid in knee deep water I got a nice zinc penny tone on the Manticore but low and behold it was Paul’s amazing ring.  Anniversary saved!  Aloha to Paul!

This ring find began late last night when I got a text from Matthew from Kailua.  Since the yellow Gold Claddagh Wedding Ring was in the dry sand I called Matthew in order to meet up first thing the next morning as that beach gets detected heavily.  We agreed to meet at Matthew’s home then put the gear in his vehicle so parking wouldn’t be an issue.  Matthew told me he had put his ring in his shirt pocket so he wouldn’t lose it in the water swimming.  He didn’t notice it missing until he arrived home and realized it had fallen out of the pocket.  When we arrived on the scene, Matthew drew a grid for me in the sand to hunt.  Turned on the Manticore, noise cancelled, then started the hunt.  First target “BOOM”  Matthew’s ring.  Elapsed time 15 seconds.  Aloha to Matthew and his son Thomas.

This ring find began when I got a text from Leila asking, ” I was wondering if you could help me out.  I lost my ring at the beach today and need a metal detector to find it.  I’m pretty sure the one we bought was cheaply made and need someone with experience too.  The ring was passed down to me and I feel devastated that it’s lost.  I’m located in the Kapolei area and lost it in the sand last night.”  I called Leila and I told her I would have to see what traffic was like and I would try to grab my gear and head out during lunch.  Thankfully,  traffic was a breeze and I got to Nimitz Beach in record time.  Leila & her sister Jade were two minutes behind me.  When we got to the search area Jade drew a box in the sand where they thought the ring may have fallen out of a beach bag Leila’s boyfriend Jah was attending to.  It only took 5 minutes but no ring.  Only a few lead weights and two quarters.  I asked Leila and Jade where else did Jah go so we can trace his path.  It was down the beach in both directions.  I hunted the westerly direction first as it was the shortest distance.  No ring!  I then went in the easterly direction.  Thankfully not much trash.  Suddenly about 20 yards from the original search area I got a booming tone on the Manticore.  In one scoop a chunky Gold Nugget ring appeared.  Jade wasn’t sure about the ring so we called Leila who had taken her baby back to the car.  Jade sent her a pic and she confirmed it was the Gold Nugget ring she lost.  We met halfway,  near a picnic area for the return.  Leila was obviously relieved and Jah was out of the dog house!  Aloha to Leila, Jade & Jah!

This ring find began when I got text from Rocky who is a Security Officer at 4 Seasons.  His daughter, Avhenlee, had lost his Sister in Law’s Gold Sentimental Hawaiian ring in Ulua Lagoon and he wanted to know my availability.  While we were talking his daughter had been texting me info about the lost ring.  I gave her a call and told her I would hunt first thing in the morning on the low tide.  The next morning after finishing a successful recovery at 4 Seasons, I headed to Ulua Lagoon.  I matched up the pics Avhenlee sent me and started the grid search.  On about the sixth leg I got a nice tone on the Manticore in about chest deep water.  After two scoops the Shiny Gold Hawaiian ring was in the scoop.  I went and cleaned up then called Avhenlee and told her the good news.  She just so happened to be dropping her father off at Aulani in a few minutes so we met there for the return.  When she arrived her bright smile was from ear to ear.  A hug & prayer was all that was needed then.  Aloha to Avhenlee!