Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 07, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000354707
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 2,506,804,981
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		101,415,268
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000046207
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,429,105
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY