Here's some words of advice before you come on to Kauai, or any place you visit. 

 Leave your favorite or most precious jewelry, watches, rings etc, at home.

First, like all places on earth, there is theft.  Theft from hotel rooms, condos, vacation rentals and vehicles.  Thwart the thefts, by locking doors and windows and not having things to steal that you would miss.  

Second,  never swim with your wedding ring, expensive ring, watches, earrings, or necklaces on. 
It will likely come off in the ocean as the fingers get smaller, and the sunblock makes your finger slippery.    Don't let it be you.

In the past 20 years of Kauai's Dutch Medford's work at finding people's lost jewelry for them,  97% of all the jewelry was lost in the water.    Only 3% was lost on the beach. Dutch has returned over $980,000 worth of lost jewelry during his 20 plus years doing this as a service to the community and hobby. Ken Davico too was running neck and neck with Dutch as well. 

Dutch Medford ( Kauai lost Jewelry finder Angel) suggests a brillant idea: Leave your expensive or sentimental jewelry at home, and substitute your wedding ring with a silver or gold wedding band for vacations. What a brillant idea! ( or how about a fancy fake ring that sparkles. Only you and I will know the secret!)

(Gregg and Kelly from Texas surprised me on Tour showing me their alternate wedding rings they got prior coming to Kauai thanks to reading this very page. )

Many newlyweds lose their rings in the water.  I did not know that!  Can you imagine?

Don't wear the wedding ring into the water.  The jewelry gets buried almost immediately by the sand's movements.  Poof it's gone.   I write from experience. It happened to me.

How to find lost jewelry in the Ocean 

Try to identify where it dropped by looking to the land for a marker.
See how far you are from the beach.  Have some one bring you a rock to drop so to mark the spot for an Angel to come with a metal detector.

Metal detector jewelry finders here on Kauai. If you lost your jewelry, there are lost jewelry finders with waterproof metal detectors on Kauai who may be able to assist you.  Call Dutch Medford.  Cell: 808-651-5470.  If you live on Kauai, and are a Treasure hunter with a underwater metal detector,  and would like to help others, please call me.      

Why does the ring come off in the water?

Dutch writes,

"As soon as a person goes in the water here, their ring finger can immediately SHRINK ONE FULL RING SIZE.

Add suntan lotion, the natural slickness of the ocean water, and rings will slip off their fingers before they know it. A lot of times,  people that lose their rings in the water don't realize it until they get back to their rooms: usually in the shower.

The best way to not have a heart broken vacation while visiting here in Hawaii, is not to wear any jewelry when they go to the beach, especially if they are going in the water.
Hopefully, this message will help keep some visitor from losing jewelry on their visit to our beautiful island. "

                   What to do if you lost or Stolen Jewelry on Kauai  
First, call Dutch above with metal detectors if you lost it in the ocean or in the sand and know where it might be.

You need to have this information before you leave Kauai, so that if you have insurance, the insurance company may cover the loss.  

For your records: ask that the police officer  photocopy the "Lost Report" for you, and mail it, scan it, or put the copy in an envelope for you to pick up.

Inform  Security at your Hotel or Vacation Rental Company.

Post Lost Sign at beach with amount of Reward offered.
                               ( contact me for possible posting sign Service  )

Provide Lifeguards with the flyer for their files

Post your Lost Ad on Craigslist.com Kauai  on in the Pennysaver magazine (both are free)  ( keep renewing the free ads)
                                 
Consider putting in a Lost Ad in the Garden Island newspaper (kauaiworld.com) describing jewelry, date of loss, and location lost on Kauai)

Jewelry lost in the water has been found many years ( 40 years! ) after it lost.

If this has helped you, please let me know at karen@kauaiedentours.com!

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Kauai's loss: Ken Davico passed away Sunday, June 5, 2011 suddenly, doing what he loved: after having snorkeled off the coast of Poipu. Ken Davico will be missed. If you want to contact his family: 808-823-6462.

Call Dutch Medford to see if he may be able to get your lost item or can refer you to someone else who could help you.  Call Dutch Medford.  Cell: 808-651-5470.