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# Pohnpei (Micronesia)

##

Last modified: 2026-07-18 by ian macdonald
Keywords: shell | coconut cup | stars (6) | stars (11) | pohnpei | ponape |
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image by Zoltan Horvath, 16 July 2024
Proportions: 1:2

1977-1992 flag
image by Jaume Ollé

- Pohnpei
- Color specifications
- Emblem
- Possible flags of municipalities

See also:

- 1st Pohnpei State Police Academy
- Federated States of Micronesia

## Pohnpei

Pohnpei (Ponape) flies a blue flag (blue like the UN flag) with six stars (one for each island: Pingelap, Mokil, Ponape, Ngatik, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi), a wreath of coconut leaves, and a ceremonial cup called a "sakau" cup made from half a coconut shell. The law allowing a flag was passed in 1976 and a competition was held. The flag was created by a student, Rosendo Alex (his was one of 60 designs submitted in the competition), and it was adopted in December 1977.
Jaume Ollé, 12 September 1996

I saw two variations of this Micronesian island flag. one version with 11 stars and the other with 6 stars. Which one is the right one?
Dov Gutterman, 08 December 1998

I believe that the design with six stars was the first one. Adopted in December 1977 the six stars were for the six atolls: Pingelap, Mokil, Ponape, Ngatik, Nukuoro y Kapingaramangi. The wreath was different from the current one, and also the shade of blue later changed to the current design (1993) with 11 stars.
Jaume Ollé, 10 December 1998

Ponape used the flag bearing six stars during 1977-1992 and then Pohnpei (new name) changed number of star from six to eleven in the flag in 1992 to present.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 9 September 2000

image by BlinxCat, 20 March 2022

This is a much earlier rendition of the flag of Pohnpei Micronesia, the difference is the colors and coconut are clearly different, it's not dark blue and is actually lighter blue in reality.
BlinxCat, 20 March 2022

Pohnpei state flag has a number of images, each symbolizing a significant part of Pohnpei’s cultural lifestyle. The blue background represents the ever-present ocean. The sakau cup (made of an half coconut shell) represents the symbolic uniqueness of Pohnpeian culture. The eleven stars signify each of the municipalities in Pohnpei. The coconut leaves symbolize the importance of the plant for the state.
Ratio: 10:19
Image of flag: https://3.bp.blogspot.com
Zoltan Horvath, 16 July 2024

## Colour specifications

The Album des Pavillons 2000 [pay00] (Corr. No. 6.) gives approximate colors in Pantone and CMYK systems:
Blue: Pantone 286c, CMYK 100-66-0-2
Green: Pantone 347c, CMYK 100-0-86-3
Brown: Pantone 470c, CMYK 0-58-100-33
Flag Color Codes gives the following color values:
Blue: Hex # 0039AD, RGB 0-57-173, CMYK 100-67-0-32, Pantone 293 C, RAL 5005
Green: Hex #046E24, RGB 4-110-36, CMYK 96-0-67-57, Pantone 356 C, RAL 6029
White: Hex #FFFFFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0, Pantone N/A, RAL N/A
Brown: Hex #A54A00, RGB 165-74-0, CMYK 0-55-100-35, Pantone 1525 C, RAL 2001
Zoltan Horvath, 16 July 2024

## Emblem

image by Zoltan Horvath, 16 July 2024

The seal has the same elements as of the flag, coconut shell, palm tree, leaves and eleven stars.
Zoltan Horvath, 16 July 2024

## Possible flags of municipalities

Pohnpei legislative website, reported by Gvido Petersons
From left to right (attached to the wall): Sokehs, Kitti, Uh, Madolenihmw, Kapingamarangi and (probably, image is cropped) Kolonia.
Source: Michel Lupant. All published in Gaceta de Banderas [gdb] (Spanish Vexillological Society Newsletter) November 2009 and January 2010.
Antonio Gutiérrez, 31 December 2009

Despite its smallness, and judging from the Pohnpei Legislative website, Pohnpei seems to be subdivided into the following 11 subdivisions (municipalities):

- Kapingamarangi
- Kitti
- Kolonia
- Madolenihmw
- Mwoakilloa
- Nett
- Nukuoro
- Pingelap
- Sapwuahfik
- Sokehs
- U

See: http://www.fm/psec/electoralsystem.htm
Jorge Candeias, 20 April 2005

## 1st Pohnpei State Police Academy

image by Eugene Ipavec, 21 February 2010

Dark blue field, mustard-yellow laurel branches enclosing many elements: a crest of an eagle head with small wings over a ribbon - both mustard-yellow - reading "POLICE" in white. Below that, a pair of handcuffs hanging down over an 8-pointed star inside two white circles and crossed horizontally by a white flashlight. This bracketed on either side by a green frond and a palm tree. Below the handcuffs, a white open book reading "COURTESY INTEGRITY SERVICE" on separate lines. Below it, a 5-pointed star bracketed by two police nightsticks, all three mustard-yellow. And - finally - below the whole affair, a beige ribbon reading "1st PHONPEI POLICE ACADEMY 2001."
Eugene Ipavec, 21 February 2010