HRS §268-10
State ferry authority and liability
This section says the state's transportation department has the same duties and rights as a common carrier when running ferries. It can make agreements with other carriers and file with government agencies. It must follow laws about liability for damaged property or injured passengers.
everyone
The statute, as written — Authority as a common carrier; rights and liabilities
The department of transportation shall have all the obligations, duties, and rights of a common carrier of persons and property in its operation of ferries, terminals, or other facilities used in its ferry operations, including the right to participate in joint rates and through routes, agreements, and divisions of through and joint rates with railroads and other common carriers and the right to make any filings with the Interstate Commerce Commission, the United States Maritime Commission, or any other state or federal regulatory or governmental body and to comply with the lawful rules and regulations or requirements of any such body, and shall be subject to laws relating to carrier's liability for loss or damage to property transported, and for personal injury or death of persons transported.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.