EXHIBIT 24



POWER OF ATTORNEY



        Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of

 CHESTER A. RICHARDSON and CONNIE Y. CHANG, or any of them signing singly, and with full

power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to:



 (1)  prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's behalf, and

submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Form ID, including

amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and

passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required

by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC;



 (2) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an

officer and/or director of HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4,

and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules

thereunder;



 (3) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may

be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and

execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the SEC and any

stock exchange or similar authority; and



 (4) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing

which, in the opinion of such attorneys-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or

legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such

attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in

such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorneys-in-fact may approve in

such attorneys-in-fact's discretion.



        The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to

do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be

done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and

purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of

substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact, or

such attorneys-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue

of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned

acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of

the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's

responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no

longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and

transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a

signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.



        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be

executed as of this 26th day of January, 2009.







 /s/ Victor H. Li

 VICTOR H. LI