This week's meeting of the Polynesian Leaders Group in Tuvalu is to consider membership applications from New Zealand, Hawai'i and Rapanui.
The group was brought together in 2011 to seek a future for Polynesian peoples and to maintain and protect the importance of cultures, traditions and languages.
The Polynesian Leaders Group meet in 2014 Photo: supplied
It was set up as the Melanesian Spearhead Group gained more prominence and a Micronesian leaders group was established by the nations that are also members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The Funafuti meeting will also review a draft charter for the group and discuss the establishment of its secretariat.
American Samoa is to offer to host the meeting in 2019.