It was first mapped from air photos taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47, and observed by Wilkes Station personnel who conducted a 1957 survey of the Swain Islands under Carl R. Eklund.

It was named by Eklund for Rudolf A. Honkala, chief meteorologist with the United States International Geophysical Year wintering party of 1957 at Wilkes Station.

[1] This article incorporates public domain material from "Honkala Island".

Geographic Names Information System.

This Wilkes Land location article is a stub.