What do the 15 white stars on the Cook Islands flag represent?

The current flag of the Cook Islands, which was made official on August 4, 1979, features 15 white stars. These stars represent the faith of the people in God and the equality of the 15 islands that make up the nation.1

It is important to note that while an earlier version of the flag (adopted in 1974) featured 15 yellow stars to represent unity, the current design utilizes white stars to symbolize equality and faith.1