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by Jens Pattke, 16 January 2010
See also:
Based on a personal
web site at http://www.users.quest.net/~rae.4332/flags.html (no longer
available), developed by an inhabitant of Palau, which shows the flags of all
the 16 states of Palau. The flag is
blue, with a white disk surrounded by 6 yellow five-pointed stars, and bearing 6 fish
around a sprig of red ti plant.
André Pires Godinho, 30 March 2003
THE FIVE COLORS OF THE FLAG:
Sky Blue Color of the sky, rivers, and ocean
surrounding Airai State
Yellow Color of shining star representing the wisdom
of six traditional chiefs of the six hamlets of Airai State
White
Representing peace
Gray Color of the famous rabbit-fish of Airai State
Red
Color of the Sis el Yanged (ti-plant) that Medechiibelau used to lure the meyas
(rabbit-fish) to Airai. This special ti-plant is used to keep away the curse and
garner the goodness in life.
LEGEND AND EXPLANATION OF THE FLAG
When
Mechii-Belau came to Imeliik, he saw Itungelbai carrying the ti-plant running
from the shore to the reef and back to the shore with rabbit-fish running after
him. Medechiibelau came close to Itungelbai and started asking him how this ti-plant
worked and Itungelbai began to explain how to use the special ti-plant.
Medechiibelau coveted this special ti-plant and asked Itungelbai if he could try
it. Itungelbai gave the Sis el Yanged (ti-plant) to Medechiibelau and he ran
back and forth between the reef and the shore and the school of rabbit-fish
followed him. Medechiibelau realized that he really wanted the ti-plant and
rabbit-fish so after the next round he took the ti-plant and ran to Airai with
the rabbit-fish following him and planted the ti-plant in Airai. That is why
rabbit-fish only spawn in Airai. The six rabbit-fish represent the six Chiefs
and the six stars represent the six Hamlets of Airai State.
The six Hamlets are Ordomel, Oikull, Ngchesechang, Ngerusar, Ngeruluobel, and
Ngetkib. The Sis el Yanged (ti-plant) is planted in the middle of the flag by
Medechiibelau to bring goodness to Airai via clean, white and lasting peace now
and forever.
Source:
http://airaistate.com/airaistategovernment_files/airaiflag.html and
http://pacificdigitallibrary.org.
Paraskevas Renesis, 14 January 2010
[Ed Note:] This flag was reported by Jaume Ollé in 1997 as displaying a Medeii Belau (a mythical creature) centered on a blue field.
The state flag of Airai is not the two headed mythical creature Medeii Belau, but a shell fish which we call Sa'ng.
Julius Iechad, 12 December 2001