The story
Kiribati National Week in Tarawa/Multi-island
Kiribati's independence period, centered on July 12, brings flag raising, a presidential address, and a procession to Bairiki National Stadium on South Tarawa, alongside named observances such as Gospel Day and a national culture day. Traditional dance styles including ruoia and kaimatoa, canoe races, and kite flying fill the surrounding days across maneabas and open grounds. Outer islands and Kiritimati hold smaller parallel observances. Coverage is mostly descriptive rather than a fixed public program.
Kiribati marks its independence from Britain, granted on July 12, 1979, with a stretch of national observances built around that date rather than a single day of ceremony.