Civil Flag of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (1983)

The Northern Mariana Islands is a chain of 18 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a self-governing commonwealth in a political union with the United States, granting its citizens all the benefits of United States citizenship, except the right to vote in U.S. elections.

The Northern Mariana Islands was a former member of the United Nations authorised and United States administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was formed after the Second World War, in 1947 and incorporated more than 2000 islands in the west and north-west Pacific Ocean; it included the Caroline, Marianas and Marshall Islands.

The Northern Mariana Islands flag is based on design first introduced in 1972. 

Modifications to the flag have been made over the years including the addition of a traditional Carolinian mwaar; a head wreath made of flowers. 

The current Northern Mariana Islands flag has been in use since July 1995.

The Symbolic Meaning

The central emblem on the flag is a grey latte stone, symbolic of the Mariana Islands' Chamorro culture. Latte stones, vertical pillars of limestone or volcanic rock, were used to support traditional dwellings.

The five-pointed white star in front of the latte stone represents the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Mariana Islands' Carolinian culture is represented by a garland of flowers, a traditional sign of welcome, around the star and latte stone. 

Called a mwaar, it is a head wreath made from langilang, flores mayo (seyur) angagha and teibwo flowers.