The first recorded sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña on 16 April 1568.

More precisely the sighting was due to a local voyage done by a small boat, in the accounts the brigantine Santiago, commanded by maestre de campo Pedro Ortega Valencia and having Hernán Gallego as pilot.

[1][2] Along with the nearby island of Gavutu, it played an important role in the Guadalcanal campaign during World War II.

In 1942 the Japanese attempted to establish a seaplane base on the island.

On 7–9 August 1942, in the Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo, elements of the U.S. 2nd Marine Regiment assaulted and occupied the island.