One Person, One Bag, One Mountain

Photo: IG @TrashCleanupsHawaii

On the winding roads of Tantalus, where forest meets city and rainfall carries everything downhill, Cobalt Zucker shows up with little more than gloves, a trash bag, and a camera. No crew. No fanfare. Just the quiet belief that if you see a problem, you can do something about it.

Cobalt began documenting his clean-ups through Trash Cleanups Hawaii, posting short videos as he picked up bottles, plastic, and abandoned debris along roadside pull-outs and drainage areas on Tantalus. At first glance, it might seem insignificant—one person collecting trash on a mountainside. But over time, those small actions added up. Fewer clogged drains. Less litter washing mauka-to-makai during heavy rains. A visible reminder that someone cares:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DTBIrH9j_cZ/

What makes Cobalt’s work especially powerful is its simplicity. He doesn’t wait for permission or perfection. He goes where he is, cleans what he can, and invites others to do the same. His videos carry a quiet message: you don’t need a big organization or a big budget to make a difference—just the willingness to start.

On Tantalus, where stewardship matters for everything downstream, one person’s effort becomes part of a much larger story. It’s a reminder that mālama ʻāina often begins with a single neighbor, a single bag, and the choice to act.