Nolo strengthened into a major hurricane Saturday far out in the Pacific Ocean, well to the west of Hawaii''s main islands. The storm''s maximum sustained winds rapidly intensified to 115 mph (185 kph), the Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported, meaning it was a Category 3 hurricane.

Nolo was located about 210 miles (335 kilometers) south-southwest of Maro Reef and moving westward at 17 mph (28 kph). A tropical storm warning was issued for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument - a massive and remote federally protected area with islands, atolls, seamounts, shoals and coral reefs - from Maro Reef to Lisianski Island.