The author states that migration among Pacific Island countries was high during the late 1980s. Economic changes and restrictive migration policies led to net losses from New Zealand since 1990. Migration extended toward Australia, the US, and Samoa, and return migration occurred to some extent. Policies in Pacific Island countries favor remittances from migration. Pacific Islander migrants experience difficulties in adjusting to changes in host country labor markets and to competition with better-trained Asian migrants. It is argued that island economies must work toward improvements in education and development of the private sector rather than relying on the export of unskilled labor for securing national economic development. This article estimates the size of the largest flows of migrants in the South Pacific since 1980 (Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga). The author examines the impact of changes in economic conditions and migration policies on changes in migration patterns, migrant characteristics, and population age structure. It is estimated from Pacific Rim country migration data that about 18,000 immigrants arrived from Tonga during the 1980s, an annual net loss rate of 1.9% over 10 years and 2.2% during the late 1980s. 50,000 immigrants were from Fiji, a net loss rate of 0.7% over 10 years and about 1% during the late 1980s. Samoan estimates revealed a net loss of 16,000, or 23,500 during 1986-91, which would mean underenumeration or population loss in 1991. Migration from the Cook Islands was low and included return migration of about 700 persons. Migration to New Zealand and Australia showed no declines as a whole from Polynesian countries. Changes occurred in the timing of migration due to policy changes. New Zealand-born Polynesians had lower unemployment rates than recent Polynesian migrants. Skilled Polynesians preferred migrating to the US.