RNZ reports the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is chairing the 10th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders which is meeting in Hawaii.
He says he expects the Pacific island countries to come out of the discussion with the US holding a stronger collective perspective on the region's key issues including climate change and security.
Mr O'Neill says the meeting provides an opportunity to work with US officials towards the change of government in the US so leaders can hit the ground running when the new President is inaugurated in January.
