Kiribati's national symbols richly embody its maritime heritage, cultural identity, and geographic dispersion across the vast Pacific Ocean. The national flag, adopted in 1979 upon independence, features a striking red upper half symbolizing the sun and the frigatebird—a golden bird soaring over a rising sun with 17 rays representing the 16 Gilbert Islands plus Banaba—while the lower blue section displays three wavy white stripes evoking the Pacific Ocean waves and the three island groups: Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line Islands. This design not only captures the nation's atoll-based existence but also reflects its resilience against rising sea levels, with the frigatebird emblematic of freedom, navigation mastery, and aerial dominion over the seas.
Complementing the flag, the coat of arms replicates this central motif encircled by a golden rope on a ribbed white background, surmounted by a Pacific dolphin fish (mahi-mahi) and supported by two frigatebirds, with the Gilbertese motto "Te Mauri - Te Raoi - ao Te Tabomoa" ("Health, Peace, and Prosperity") inscribed on a scroll below, underscoring the values of well-being, harmony, and abundance central to I-Kiribati life. The national anthem, "Teirake kaaini Kiribati" (Stand Kiribati), composed by Tamati Manu, serves as a unifying call to national pride, invoking divine protection over the scattered islands and celebrating communal strength amid oceanic isolation.
Additional symbols deepen this national tapestry: the frigatebird (Fregata minor) stands as the official national bird, revered for its graceful flight and role in traditional navigation lore; the plumeria (frangipani) flower represents beauty and resilience in the atoll environment; and while not always formalized, the Bokikokoko (a rare endemic rail bird) symbolizes unique biodiversity, alongside occasional cultural nods to marine life like the Omura's whale or dolphin fish. These emblems collectively affirm Kiribati's identity as "Te Wa Mwani" (The Sacred Canoe), navigating challenges from climate change to cultural preservation.