The island was named after the corsair Jean-François Hodoul.

In 1875, Dr. Henry Brooks of Seychelles rented it to store coal.

During 1995–2005, Hodoul Island served as a storage site for explosives for the Mahe port reclamation project.

[1] In 2016, a new casino was opened on the west point of the island.

The island belongs to English River District.