Initiated by a central bank, this is the first study to examine and understand the trilemma as well as the quadrilemma monetary policy challenges in the case of Pacific Island countries. Taking Fiji as an example, over the 1975–2013 period, the trilemma, monetary independence and exchange rate stability might have been the more fervently pursued stance; the quadrilemma focus appears to have shifted to foreign reserves and capital account openness. When the full sample period is split into two subsamples, results show that the policy emphasis might have shifted from monetary independence, capital account openness, and foreign reserves to exchange rate stability, monetary independence, and foreign reserves. Policy implications are discussed.

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