Adopted in 1979; The flag of Kiribati upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean. The white stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands. The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island). The frigate bird symbolizes authority and freedom.