Gov. Josh Green proclaimed Feb. 14, 2025, as “One Love Day” in honor of the late Bob Marley’s 80th birthday. He was born on Feb. 6, 1945.
Green signed the proclamation at the Hawaii State Capitol, surrounded by Bob Marley’s sons, Julian and Ky-Mani, and other members of the Marley family.
Decades ago, Hawaii’s local musicians embraced Bob Marley’s music and felt an affinity with the experiences of Jamaicans, creating a subgenre of music known as Jawaiian, which persists in popularity to this day.
“Bob Marley was a pioneer and a visionary,” said Green at the ceremony. “He brought Jamaican music and culture to a global audience, but he did something even far bigger than that; he brought a certain kind of vision and love for people out of a time that was difficult.”
Green said that Marley’s message of peace, love, unity and social justice lives on through his music, listing “One Love,” “The Redemption Song” and “Three Little Birds.”
“For years, I’ve known Hawaii to be a home for our family,” said Julian Marley. He said it was the third time he had been in the island state, first visiting over 20 years ago. “From that time to this time, we still feel the love and the strength. We are overjoyed to celebrate our father and the ‘One Love’ message.”
“We know the message of ‘One Love’ is about love, peace and togetherness,” said Ky-Mani Marley. “It is a reminder that despite our differences, we’re all connected.”
He said his father’s legacy is more than the music. “It is calling for social justice, equality and that natural love we should share between each other.”
