When actor Marlon Brando died in 2004, he had long claimed that he was never rich and had never accumulated much wealth. Sure, it’s easy to forget about all the millions of dollars he had earned, but did he really forget that had purchased an entire island chain in the South Pacific in the 1960s? Perhaps so, but it’s one place pollution has never forgotten.

Last week, in celebration of Earth Day, the islands enjoyed four-days of clean up of washed ashore garbage that’s fallen from ocean liners over the past ten years. Wayward junk included tennis balls, neon tubes, and cans of aluminum as well as British articulated aluminium, some items dating back more than a decade.

The islands are best known for their avian species diversity, and less so for their association with the morbidly obese actor easily associated with the remote island ala Dr. Moreau, a film head conservationist Cecile Gaspar admits to having only seen once and having not particularly cared for.

The atoll located northwest of Tahiti is not particularly known for being of interest, bearing any relevance to travelers nor paying any homage to the famed former owner, who lost millions from his ownership in the islands.

Tetiraroa is currently under the sole guardianship of Tiehotu Brando, so draw from that what you must, but raise the eyebrow in curiosity at the curiosity it instills.

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