Tupua Tamasese’s Flag 1887-1889
On 15 September 1887 the German military declared Tui A’ana Tupua Tamasese Titimaea as “King of Samoa” and Laupepa was sent into exile. Tupua Tamasese’s flag seems to have been a white field with a black cross and a red canton with a white star, the German colours. In 1889, during the civil war, Germany, Britain, and the United States decided to declare Laupepa, king again, as a compromise candidate; they brought him back from exile and the red and white Malietoa flag was hoisted once more.