Governmental public safety agencies, Haleakala National Park, Maui Electric Co., shippers and the Hawaii Red Cross all are making preparations for the possible arrival of Hurricane Ignacio, on the heels of Gov. David Ige’s emergency proclamation Friday afternoon.

The proclamation activates the Major Disaster Fund set aside for disaster relief. It allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels and the ability to suspend laws as needed for emergency purposes.

“With our whole state engulfed in the cone of uncertainty, we ask the public to continue their preparedness efforts and monitor news media for the latest updates regarding Hurricane Ignacio,” said Vern Miyagi, executive officer of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency in announcing the proclamation.

At 5 p.m. Friday, Ignacio was a category 1 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported. Its center was veering north, though the National Weather Service advised that Ignacio’s track still is highly uncertain and has the potential to cause widespread damage.

The current track has Ignacio passing by Maui County on Monday evening-Tuesday morning, possibly at hurricane strength, according to the forecast. It is expected to strengthen today and begin weakening Sunday.

Hurricane Ignacio was moving northwest at 8 mph and was 835 miles east-southeast of Kahului at 5 p.m. Friday. Hurricane force winds extended outward from the center up to 25 miles, with tropical storm force winds reaching up to 80 miles from the center.

Hurricane Ignacio’s effects could begin being felt this weekend with high surf on east-facing shores, becoming very large and dangerous by late Sunday, according to the hurricane center.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday afternoon advised “extreme caution” due to extreme sea conditions, storm surge and high surf from Hurricane Ignacio.

Mariners and beachgoers should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through the Internet, local television, newspapers and radio stations, the Coast Guard said. Boaters can monitor the progress of the storms on VHF Channel 16.

Mariners should seek safe harbor and shelter and secure their boats and equipment, the Coast Guard said.

Young Brothers, which ships goods between Honolulu and Neighbor Island harbors including Kahului, Kaunakakai and Kaumalapau harbors, said Friday afternoon that the Coast Guard Captain of the Port has indicated that closure of the Port of Hilo may occur as early as Sunday evening. The shipper said it will continue to make adjustments to sailing schedules and cargo-handling.

On land atop Haleakala, the national park will close the backcountry at the summit Sunday due to Hurricane Ignacio. This includes all trails, campgrounds and cabins in Haleakala Crater. Park staff will reassess conditions and reopen the backcountry for hiking, camping and cabin use once it is safe, the park said.

All backcountry campers and cabin users have been informed of the closure. Cabin users also have been informed on how to get refunds.

The rest of the park will remain open, including visitor centers, restrooms, car campgrounds and roads in the Summit and Kipahulu districts. The park is open for sunrise viewing.

Updates on the park’s status may be found online at nps.gov/hale, on Facebook or by calling 572-4400 and choosing option 2.

The Hawaii Red Cross has been preparing its volunteers for Hurricane Ignacio and Tropical Storm Jimena, which is following. Red Cross logistics teams have pre-positioned supplies, and volunteers involved in dealing with disasters from health care workers to shelter officials are on standby, according to a news release Friday.

“We urge the public to take the time to prepare for the potential impacts of these storms,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO of the Hawaii Red Cross.

This includes checking disaster supplies and replacing or restocking as needed. Emergency preparedness kits should include enough supplies for at least seven days – 1 gallon of water per day per person, nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, medications, a multipurpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents.

For more information, go to www.redcross.org/news/article/hi/honolulu/hurricane-preparedness.

MECO offered electrical tips to prepare for Hurricane Ignacio:

* Unplug all unnecessary electric equipment and appliances before the storm hits and do not plug them in again until the storm has passed or until power is restored.

* Should evacuation be necessary, shut off electricity at the main breaker or switch.

* When using a portable generator, carefully read and follow instructions and do not plug the generator into household electrical outlets.

* For those with rooftop photovoltaic systems, most are designed to safely shut down during outages, though MECO advises consulting with a licensed solar contractor.

MECO’s “Information Handbook for Emergency Preparedness” – available in five languages – may be downloaded at www.mauielectric.com/prepare.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.