§51-1  Grant of powers.  Every county of
this State may acquire, condemn, purchase, lease, construct, extend, own,
maintain, and operate mass transit systems, including, without being limited
to, motor buses, street railroads, fixed rail facilities such as monorails or
subways, whether surface, subsurface, or elevated, taxis, and other forms of
transportation for hire for passengers and their personal baggage.



Every county shall have power to provide mass
transportation service, whether directly, jointly, or under contract with
private parties, without the county or private parties being subject to the
jurisdiction and control of the public utilities commission in any manner.



The terms "mass transit" and
"mass transportation" mean transportation by bus, or rail or other
conveyance, either publicly or privately owned, which provides to the public
general or special service (but not including school buses or charter or
sightseeing service) on a regular and continuing basis. [L 1967, c 300, §1; HRS
§51-1; am L 1973, c 166, §1]