Hawaii could be at risk of its first major hurricane strike in 33 years as Hurricane Kiko intensifies in the eastern Pacific and barrels toward the islands.

The storm, now nearing Category 3 strength, is forecast to reach Hawaii’s Big Island late next week — though its exact impact remains unknown, according to Fox Weather meteorologist Andrew Wulfeck.

Tropical systems often loom near Hawaii, but the islands’ cooler waters make direct hits rare.

The Category 2 storm is currently about 1,665 miles east of Hilo, with dry air and brisk sea temperatures threatening to weaken its approach, Wulfeck said.

Kiko is packing sustained winds of about 110 mph, with stronger gusts, and is slowly creeping west at 8 mph after strengthening into a hurricane early Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to maintain its current path for the next few days, gradually shifting west-northwest while picking up slightly in speed, hurricane forecasters predict.

Forecasters predict Kiko will strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday — and possibly a Category 4 Thursday — before crossing into the Central Pacific basin this weekend.

“Satellites estimate that sea surface temperatures between the hurricane and the Big Island of Hawaii are in the mid-70s, which is considered to be cooler than what a cyclone typically needs for strengthening,” Wulfeck said.

“Hurricane experts widely consider water temperatures of at least 79 degrees to be warm enough for storm systems to organize and strengthen.”

The last major hurricane to strike Hawaii was Iniki in September 1992 — the strongest and most destructive storm in the state’s history, with sustained winds of 145 mph and gusts topping 175 mph.

The Category 4 system slammed into Kauai, killing six people, obliterating thousands of homes and causing more than $3 billion in damage, with recovery taking nearly a decade.

Hawaii officials caution that it’s too early to tell if Kiko will make landfall.