Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. "Teirake kaaini Kiribati" (English: "'Stand up, Kiribati"; in Gilbertese: Kunan Kiribati, “Song of Kiribati”) is the first verse of national anthem of Kiribati. It was by written and composed by Ioteba Tamuera Uriam and adopted in 1979.