View source for Flag of Solomon Islands

{{short description|National flag}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox flag
|Name = Solomon Islands
|Article =
|Nickname = 
|Image = Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
|Image_size = 250px
|Imagetext= Flag of Solomon Islands
| Use = 111000
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111000}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Proportion = 1:2
| Adoption = {{start date and age|1977|11|18|df=y}}
| Design =  A thin, yellow stripe dividing diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner to the upper fly-side corner: the upper triangle is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern and the lower triangle is green
}}
[[File:Solomon Islands flag (7750556584) (2).jpg|thumb|Solomons flag at left]]
The '''flag of Solomon Islands''' consists of a thin yellow diagonal stripe from the lower hoist-side corner, with a blue upper triangle and green lower triangle, and the [[Glossary of vexillology#Description of standard flag parts and terms|canton]] [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] with five white stars.  Adopted in 1977 to replace the British [[Blue Ensign]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the arms of [[British Solomon Islands|the protectorate]], it has been the flag of [[Solomon Islands]] since 18 November of that year, eight months before the country gained independence.  Although the number of [[Provinces of the Solomon Islands|provinces]] has since increased, the number of stars on the flag that originally represented them remained unchanged.

==History==
===British protectorate===
{{Main|British Solomon Islands}}
The Germans and the British agreed to partition the modern-day Solomon Islands in 1886, with the latter taking control of the southern section.<ref name=EBHistory>{{cite encyclopedia|first1=Sophie|last1=Foster|first2=Hugh Michael|last2=Laracy|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Solomon Islands – History|url=https://global.britannica.com/place/Solomon-Islands#toc53970|date=1 June 2016|access-date=1 April 2017|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.}}</ref>  Seven years later, in 1893, they declared this area a [[Protectorate#British protectorates|protectorate]] within [[British Empire|their colonial empire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15896396|title=Solomon Islands country profile|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=17 January 2017|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>  At the turn of the 20th century, [[German Empire|Germany]] subsequently gave up their northern part to the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] in exchange for the latter's acceptance of German claims over [[German Samoa|Samoa]] and areas in Africa.<ref name=EBHistory/>  During this time, the [[Union Jack]] and the [[Red Ensign]] were instituted, as well as a [[Blue Ensign]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the protectorate's name and the [[Tudor Crown (heraldry)|monarch's crown]].<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Whitney|last=Smith|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Flag of the Solomon Islands|url=https://global.britannica.com/topic/Solomon-Islands-flag-of-the|date=16 February 2001|access-date=29 March 2017|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.}}</ref>

A new emblem for the protectorate was introduced in 1947 and featured a red field charged with a [[Black and white|black-and-white]] [[sea turtle]].  This was modified only nine years later because the turtle was a motif affiliated with only one of the [[Provinces of the Solomon Islands|islands' provinces]].  The revised version of 1956 saw the shield [[Division of the field|divided]] quarterly and displayed a [[Lion (heraldry)|lion]], an eagle, a turtle, a [[Frigatebird|frigate bird]], and assorted weapons from the region.<ref name=EB/>

===New flag for a new country===
In the lead up to independence, a contest was held in 1975 to design a new flag for the future country.<ref name=EB/><ref name=times>{{cite news|title=The Solomon Islands Flag|url=http://www.solomontimes.com/news/the-solomon-islands-flag/2659|date=18 January 2012|access-date=2 April 2017|first=|last=|newspaper=Solomon Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402090723/http://www.solomontimes.com/news/the-solomon-islands-flag/2659|archive-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>  One of the submissions contained the nation's [[Coat of arms of the Solomon Islands|coat of arms]],<ref name=EB/> while the initial winning design, by William Robson, an English civil engineer at the Public Works Department, had a blue field with a yellow circle, encompassed with chains and charged with a black frigate bird.<ref name=times/>  However, this was eventually rescinded, since this bird was attributed to only one province as opposed to the entire country.  The second winning design included a red field charged with a black [[Ellipse|elliptical]] chain at the centre.  As explained by the artist, this alluded to the historical practice of [[blackbirding]] in the country and the "blood spilt" as a result of it.  After it was published in a [[List of newspapers in the Solomon Islands|national newspaper]], the design stirred up much debate in the community and it too was scrapped.<ref name=times/>

{{Gallery|width=180|height=120|align=right|File:Solomon Islands 1975 Proposal 1.png|{{FIAV|Proposal}} The initial winning design of the 1975 contest.|File:Solomon Islands 1975 Proposal 2.png|{{FIAV|Proposal}} The second winning design of the 1975 contest.}}

Ultimately, the last design was created by a [[New Zealanders|New Zealander]] teaching [[visual arts]] at the King George VI School,<ref name=times/> in the eastern part of the capital [[Honiara]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Solomons businesses close amid fears of further riots in Honiara|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-19/solomons-in-lockdown-amid-fears-of-further-riots/5462720|date=20 May 2014|access-date=2 April 2017|first=|last=|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041620/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-19/solomons-in-lockdown-amid-fears-of-further-riots/5462720|archive-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>  This was in spite of the fact that preference was supposed to be given to local submissions by Solomon Islanders.<ref name=times/>  The stars stood for the country's provinces and not the [[Crux|Southern Cross]],<ref name=times/> unlike the flags of nearby [[Flag of Australia|Australia]], [[Flag of New Zealand|New Zealand]], [[Flag of Papua New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]], and [[Flag of Samoa|Samoa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Flag Description|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2081.html|date=|access-date=2 April 2017|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223221205/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2081.html|archive-date=23 December 2018}}</ref>  It was ratified as the new flag of the islands on 18 November 1977, eight months before the country became the final British protectorate to gain independence.<ref name=EB/><ref name=DK>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yahq8im86kC&pg=PA227|title=Complete Flags of the World|publisher=Penguin Group|date=6 January 2009|last=Kindersley|first=Dorling|page=227|isbn=9780756654863|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=|first=|year=1984|title=Small states and left-overs of empire|journal=The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs|volume=73|issue=290|pages=122–129|doi=10.1080/00358538408453628}} {{registration required}}</ref>

===Independence and beyond===
The Independence Day ceremony on 7 July 1978, in [[Gizo, Solomon Islands|Gizo]], [[Western Province (Solomon Islands)|Western Province]] – which saw the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the new flag – was controversial and led to a confrontation between locals and those from [[Malaita Province]].<ref name=Premdas>{{cite journal|last1=Premdas|first1=Ralph|last2=Steeves|first2=Jeff|last3=Larmour|first3=Peter|date=Spring 1984|title=The Western Breakaway Movement in the Solomon Islands|journal=Pacific Studies|volume=7|issue=2|pages=34–67|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/c7c2689352d7d2b555f9f35cf1bc88e2/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1817199}} {{registration required}}</ref>  This was because leaders from the Western Council had unsuccessfully lobbied the government to promise greater [[devolution|devolved powers]] to the provinces,<ref name=Premdas/> and some of the province's inhabitants viewed the flag ceremony –&nbsp;which had already been engineered to be as subdued as possible – as a demonstration of "Malaitan dominance" over Western Province.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hBBhhpC9jv0C&pg=PA190|title=Journeys in a Small Canoe: The Life and Times of a Solomon Islander|publisher=Pandanus Books|year=2003|last=Gina|first=Lloyd Maepeza|editor1-last=Bennett|editor1-first=Judith A.|editor2-last=Russell|editor2-first=Khyla J.|page=190|isbn=9781740760324|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

The Solomon Islander flag has been utilized as a [[flag of convenience]] by foreign [[merchant vessel]]s since 2012.<ref name=convenience>{{cite news|title=Solomon Islands to offer flag of convenience for foreign vessels|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2005-07-29/solomon-islands-to-offer-flag-of-convenience-for-foreign-vessels/764156|date=31 March 2012|access-date=29 March 2017|first=|last=|work=Radio Australia|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328172237/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2005-07-29/solomon-islands-to-offer-flag-of-convenience-for-foreign-vessels/764156|archive-date=28 March 2017}}</ref>  That year, an Act was adopted by the [[National Parliament of the Solomon Islands|country's National Parliament]] approving of its usage in this manner, with the government predicting more than [[United States dollar|US$]]500,000 in taxes annually.  The transport minister claimed that this would also give local sailors new employment opportunities and expand chances to reap [[Foreign exchange market|foreign exchange]].<ref name=convenience/>

==Design==
===Symbolism===
The colours and symbols of the flag have cultural, political, and regional meanings.  The blue evokes the water,<ref name=EB/><ref name=DK/> as well as its significance to the country in the form of rivers, rain, and the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name=EB/><ref name=CIA>{{cite web|title=Solomon Islands|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bp.html|date=12 January 2017|access-date=29 March 2017|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|archive-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527055725/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bp.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=incredible>{{cite news|title=Our incredible, forgotten neighbour paradise|url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ideas/best-of-travel/our-incredible-forgotten-neighbour-paradise/news-story/9d5570bfe3ba672d9f59fb7fcbf07294|date=25 January 2016|access-date=29 March 2017|first=Fiona|last=Harper|work=News.com.au|publisher=News Corp Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329064151/http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ideas/best-of-travel/our-incredible-forgotten-neighbour-paradise/news-story/9d5570bfe3ba672d9f59fb7fcbf07294|archive-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>  The green alludes to the land,<ref name=DK/><ref name=CIA/> along with the trees and crops that grow on it.<ref name=EB/>  The yellow epitomizes the sun and its rays separating the land and the ocean.<ref name=EB/><ref name=incredible/>

The five stars are arranged in three offset rows at the [[Glossary of vexillology#Description of standard flag parts and terms|canton]], in the [[Saltire|shape of the letter X]].<ref name=CIA/>  At first, these were meant to symbolize the provinces that the country was subdivided into at the time of independence (Central, Western, Eastern, Malaita and Honiara Capital).  Even though new provinces have since been created, the number of stars has remained unchanged.<ref name=EB/><ref name=DK/>

===Similarities===
[[File:Australian Flag Proposal (Southern Horizon).svg|thumb|right|{{FIAV|Proposal}} The 'Southern Horizon' design, a proposed alternative to the current [[flag of Australia]].]]
One of the various proposed alternatives to the present [[flag of Australia]] is an emblem labelled the 'Southern Horizon'.  Having been voted as the favourite in an unofficial poll of more than 8,000 people, its blue, gold, and green colour scheme – together with its depiction of the Southern Cross – is noted for its conspicuous resemblance to that of the Solomon Islands flag.<ref>{{cite news|title=Solomon Islanders flag alternative Aussie standard|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/295419/solomon-islanders-flag-alternative-aussie-standard|date=2 February 2016|access-date=28 March 2017|first=|last=|publisher=Radio New Zealand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328155638/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/295419/solomon-islanders-flag-alternative-aussie-standard|archive-date=28 March 2017}}</ref>

==Variants==
The [[civil ensign]] (for merchant ships) and state ensign (for non-military government vessels) are red and blue flags, respectively, with the national flag in the canton.  The [[naval ensign]] (for police vessels) is based on the British [[White Ensign|white ensign]], a red cross on a white field, also with the national flag in the canton.<ref name=flagmakers>{{cite web|title=Flag of Solomon Islands – A Brief History|url=https://www.flagmakers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Flag-of-Solomon-Islands-A-Brief-History-Download.pdf|date=|access-date=2 April 2017|work=Flagmakers|publisher=Specialised Canvas Services Ltd}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Variant flags of Solomon Islands
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Variant flag
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Usage
|-
|[[File:Civil Ensign of the Solomon Islands.svg|150px]]
|[[Civil ensign]]
|-
|[[File:Government Ensign of the Solomon Islands.svg|150px]]
|State ensign
|-
|[[File:Customs Ensign of the Solomon Islands.svg|150px]]
|Customs Service Ensign
|-
|[[File:Naval Ensign of the Solomon Islands.svg|150px]]
|[[Naval Ensign]]
|}

==Historical flags==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Historical flags of the [[British Solomon Islands]]
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Historical flag
!scope="col"|Duration<ref name=flagmakers/>
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Description
|-
|[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|150px]]
|1893–{{nnbsp}}1906
|Identical to the [[Union Jack]].
|-
|[[File:Flag of the Solomon Islands (1906–1947).svg|150px]]
|1906–1947
|A [[Blue Ensign]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the name of the protectorates and the [[Tudor Crown (heraldry)|Tudor Crown]].
|-
|[[File:Flag of the Solomon Islands (1947–1956).svg|150px]]
|1947–1956
|A Blue Ensign charged with a shield depicting a black-and-white [[sea turtle]].
|-
|[[File:Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956–1966).svg|150px]]
|1956–1966
|A Blue Ensign charged with a shield divided quarterly – depicting a lion, an eagle, a turtle, a frigate bird, and weapons from the region – on a white disk.
|-
|[[File:Flag of the Solomon Islands (1966–1977).svg|150px]]
|1966–1977
|Identical to the previous version, save for the removal of the white disk.
|}

==Provincial flags of Solomon Islands==
{{main|Provinces of Solomon Islands}}

These are the flags of the nine provinces administered by elected provincial assemblies, the tenth is the capital Honiara, administered by the Honiara Town Council.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Flag
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Province
|-
|[[File:Flag of Central Province Solomon Islands.png|150px]]
|[[Central Province (Solomon Islands)|Central]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Choiseul.png|150px]]
|[[Choiseul Province|Choiseul]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Guadalcanal.png|150px]]
|[[Guadalcanal Province|Guadalcanal]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Isabel Province Solomon Islands.png|150px]]
|[[Isabel Province|Isabel]]
|-
|[[File:Flag Makira and Ulawa.png|150px]]
|[[Makira-Ulawa Province|Makira-Ulawa]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Malaiita.png|150px]]
|[[Malaita Province|Malaita]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rennell_and_Bellona_Province.svg|150px]]
|[[Rennell and Bellona Province|Rennel and Bellona]]
|-
|[[File:Temotu province flag.svg|150px]]
|[[Temotu Province|Temotu]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Western Province Solomon Islands.png|150px]]
|[[Western Province (Solomon Islands)|Western]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Honiara.svg|150px]]
|[[Honiara|Capital Territory]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*{{FOTW|id=sb|title=Solomon Islands}}

{{Solomon Islands topics}}
{{Oceania topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Oceania]]}}
{{nationalflags}}<!-- to edit this table, go to [[Template:Nationalflags]] -->
{{Union Flag}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solomon Islands, Flag of the}}
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:National symbols of the Solomon Islands|Flag]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Quadcolor flags]]