Overview:
Palau honors the late Kalistus Ngirturong, former Aimeliik State delegate and traditional high chief, with flags flown at half-mast for five days. From education to politics and community leadership, Ngirturong’s lifelong dedication leaves a lasting legacy across Palau.
KOROR, Palau (Jan. 6, 2026) — Calling his passing a moment of “utmost homage and deep sadness,” President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. has ordered all Palau national flags flown at half-mast for five days to honor the late Kalistus Ngirturong, a former delegate of Aimeliik State and the traditional high chief, Rengulbai of Aimeliik.
Presidential Proclamation No. 26-415 directs that flags be lowered beginning Jan. 5, 2026, at all government buildings across the Republic of Palau and at Palauan embassies and consulates abroad, recognizing Ngirturong’s lifelong service in education, public office, agriculture and community development.
Ngirturong, born Dec. 25, 1947, was educated at Aimeliik Elementary School and Palau High School before earning an associate degree from Leeward Community College in Hawaii in 1972. He devoted three decades to public education, serving as a teacher and administrator from 1973 to 2003. His leadership included terms as principal of Aimeliik Elementary School and as chief of the Division of School Management at the Ministry of Education, where he helped shape school administration and policy nationwide.
His public service extended into national politics following the death of Delegate Steve Umetaro. Ngirturong was elected to represent Aimeliik State in the Sixth Olbiil Era Kelulau and went on to win re-election in the Seventh and Eighth OEKs, earning a reputation for a calm, accessible leadership style and close engagement with constituents.
Beyond elected office, Ngirturong remained active in grassroots and economic development initiatives. He served for many years on the board of the Palau Community Action Agency, played a key role in reviving OISCA International’s Palau chapter, and co-founded the Palau–Taiwan Farmers Association. In 2024, he was serving as the association’s vice president, advocating for agricultural cooperation and food security.
His impact was particularly felt in workforce development. As chair of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Local Workforce Development Board beginning in 2021, Ngirturong oversaw the development and implementation of CARES Act retroactive payments for workers affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, WIOA disbursed more than $30 million in retroactive benefits to 688 claimants for the 2020–2021 period.
Issued under the authority of the Constitution and laws of Palau, including 1 PNC §503(c), the proclamation frames the half-mast order as a national expression of respect for Ngirturong’s “distinguished service to family, state and country.”
Ngirturong is survived by his wife, children and several siblings. The proclamation notes that lowering the flag is intended not only to honor his achievements, but also to acknowledge the values of service, humility and community leadership he embodied throughout his life.
For five days, the lowered flags will serve as a visible reminder of a public servant whose influence spanned classrooms, legislative chambers and village communities across Palau.