Malolo was one of the locations visited by members the United States Exploring Expedition under Charles Wilkes in 1840. During the visit, two members of the party, including Midshipman Wilkes Henry, Wilkes' nephew, were killed by natives as they attempted to negotiate for food. In retaliation, sixty crewmen from the Expedition's ships attacked and destroyed the villages of Sualib and Arro on Malolo; they also laid waste to all of the crops and huts located in between the two
