Flag of the Day #1 – Kiribati

Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags. That is much introduction to this series as I’m interested in making. So, here is flag #1 – Kiribati.

Kiribati is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii. The permanent population is over 119,000 (2020), more than half of whom live on Tarawa atoll. Kiribati is probably best know to Americans as the site of The Battle of Tarawa, the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region during WWII and the first in which Americans encountered Japanese willing to fight nearly to the last man.

Kiribati gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.
The flag is directly taken from the coat of arms granted to the colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1931. The coat of arms was incorporated into the center of the colonial flag which was a British Blue Ensign.

Upon gaining independence this design won a design contest. Mainly because it is awesome. The yellow frigatebird soars serenely over the sea representing freedom. The blue and white wavy bands represent the Pacific Ocean and three major atolls that comprise the country. Each of the Sun’s 18 rays represent one of the islands that make up the country.