Maps show Hurricane Kiko's path and forecast in Pacific as it moves west toward Hawaii

Hurricane Kiko is swirling in the Pacific Ocean and heading west in a direction toward Hawaii.

Forecasters warned that swells from the storm could reach the Hawaiian Islands by the end of the weekend and cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. On Saturday night, forecasters at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Kiko has been strengthening over the Central Pacific as it moved west-northwestward.

With a maximum sustained wind near 140 mph, Kiko is a powerful Category 4 storm. As of the NHC's latest update at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, the hurricane was about 860 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

Maui and the Big Island are expected to see swells generated by the storm by Sunday and last through midweek, according to fo