HONOLULU (AP) -- Forecasters say Hurricane Neki has formed in the Pacific Ocean, far from the main Hawaiian Islands.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says maximum winds Tuesday evening were at about 75 mph. It is expected to pass near tiny Johnston Island possibly on Wednesday.

The uninhabited island, which is part of the isolated Johnston Atoll, is under the primary jurisdiction and control of the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a national wildlife refuge there.

Neki was about 630 miles southwest of Honolulu and about 340 miles east-southeast of Johnston Island.