Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a rarely recognized pathway for nutrients and other solutes from land to sea. The sensitive coastal ecosystems around tropical islands could be particularly affected by nutrient discharge associated with SGD in relation to surficial nutrient transport by rivers, but have received comparatively little attention to date. This study reviews the findings of local assessments of submarine groundwater discharge from tropical islands. In addition, the ratio of coast length and land area of individual land bodies is suggested as an appropriate first-order estimate of the relevance of SGD versus river discharge, demonstrating the potential relative importance of SGD from tropical islands over rivers. The review highlights the need for targeted research of submarine groundwater discharge from tropical islands and highlights its relevance for biogeochemical fluxes in these geographic settings.