HRS §46-16
Counties can control traffic on certain private streets
Counties can put up traffic signs and enforce traffic laws on certain private streets that the public has used for at least six months or that are meant to be given to the public. This does not make the county responsible for fixing the street, and it does not give the public any permanent rights to the street.
countieslandowners
The statute, as written — Traffic regulation and control over private streets
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any county and its authorized personnel may impose and enforce traffic regulations and place appropriate traffic control devices, and may enforce chapters 249; 286; 287; 291; 291C; 291E; 431, articles 10C and 10G; and 486, part III on the following categories of private streets, highways, or thoroughfares, except private roads used primarily for agricultural and ranching purposes: (1) Any private street, highway, or thoroughfare which has been used continuously by the general public for a period of not less than six months; provided that the county shall not be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the private street, highway, or thoroughfare when it imposes or enforces traffic regulations and highway safety laws or places or permits to be placed appropriate traffic control devices on that street, highway, or thoroughfare; provided further that no adverse or prescriptive rights shall accrue to the general public when the county imposes or enforces traffic regulations and highway safety laws or places appropriate traffic control devices on that street, highway, or thoroughfare; nor shall county consent to the placement of traffic control signs or markings on a private street be deemed to constitute control over that street; and (2) Any private street, highway, or thoroughfare which is intended for dedication to the public use as provided in section 264-1 and is open for public travel but has not yet been accepted by the county.
Sections this one refers to
§264-1 What counts as a public highway or trail and how they are dedicated
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.