State's appropriation to eleemosynary hospital considered for public purpose. Att. Gen. Op. 64-51.

Lease-back arrangement for financing state capitol in which title to state land is conveyed to a public building authority for nominal consideration is not a pledge of state's credit nor a prohibitive appropriation of public property. Att. Gen. Op. 65-4.

Subcontracting by the HVB of a part of its work under a contract with the department of planning and economic development to the Maui County Visitors Association, a private nonprofit agency, was not in violation of this section. Att. Gen. Op. 81-5.

Use of public funds to obtain permanent/immigrant status for noncitizen employees, not a "public purpose". Att. Gen. Op. 84-12.

It is generally for legislature to decide what is a "public purpose", and courts should not void the determination unless manifestly wrong. 56 H. 566, 545 P.2d 1175.