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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 7ZDgRc2jHbFyCn2hPNWYGA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000354707-09-000005.txt : 20090224
<SEC-HEADER>0000354707-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090224210253
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000354707-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARADA CURTIS Y
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195572

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08503
		FILM NUMBER:		09632128

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 730
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96808

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000354707
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				990208097
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			HI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 RICHARDS ST
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8085435662

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 RICHARDS STREET
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000354707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195572</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARADA CURTIS Y</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 730</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96808-0730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Controller &amp; Chief Accting</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>571</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.985</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5571</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7071</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7557.641</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401k</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares awarded under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan for 2006-2008 performance period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of HEI common stock.  The restricted stock units vest four years after issuance, subject to certain exceptions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Previously reported shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares held pursuant to the Hawaiian Electric Industries Retirement Savings Plan 401(k) (HEIRS).  Effective 4/1/96 the participant's investment in HEI Common Stock was converted to units in the HEI Common Stock Fund portion of HEIRS.  A small portion of the fund is held in cash; the overall value is based on the combined value of the HEI Common Stock and the cash portfolio.  For SEC reporting purposes only the actual stock portion of the fund is being reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Curtis Y. Harada</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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