Consolidated Statements of Capitalization (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Common stock, authorized shares	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, outstanding shares	101,259,800	97,928,403
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Common stock, authorized shares	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, outstanding shares	15,429,105	14,665,264
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 6.667	$ 6.667
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series C, 4.25% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	4.25%	4.25%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series D, 5.00% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.00%	5.00%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series E, 5.00% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.00%	5.00%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series H, 5.25% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.25%	5.25%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series I, 5.00% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.00%	5.00%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series J, 4.75% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Series K, 4.65% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, dividend rate	4.65%	4.65%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Preferred Stock $20 Par Value
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 20	$ 20
Preferred stock, Authorized shares	5,000,000	5,000,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Preferred Stock $100 Par Value
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Preferred stock, Authorized shares	7,000,000	7,000,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 6.50%, series 2009, due 2039
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%	6.50%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 4.60%, refunding series 2007B, due 2026
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.60%	4.60%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 4.65%, series 2007A, due 2037
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%	4.65%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 4.80%, refunding series 2005A, due 2025
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.80%	4.80%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 5.00%, refunding series 2003B, due 2022
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 5.65%, series 1997A, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.65%	5.65%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Hawaiian Electric, 4.45%, Series 2013A, due 2022
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.45%	4.45%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Hawaiian Electric, 4.84%, Series 2013B, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.84%	4.84%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Hawaiian Electric, 5.65%, Series 2013C, due 2043
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.65%	5.65%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 3.79%, Series 2012A, due 2018
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.79%	3.79%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 4.03%, Series 2012B, due 2020
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.03%	4.03%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 4.55%, due 2023
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.55%	4.55%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 4.72%, Series 2012D, due 2029
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.72%	4.72%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 5.39%, Series, 2012E, due 2042
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.39%	5.39%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | Senior notes 4.53%, Series, 2012F, due 2032
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.53%	4.53%
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc (HECO) | 6.50% Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures, series 2004, due 2034
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%	6.50%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Series G, 7.625% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.625%	7.625%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 6.50%, series 2009, due 2039
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.50%	6.50%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 4.60%, refunding series 2007B, due 2026
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.60%	4.60%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 4.65%, series 2007A, due 2037
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%	4.65%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 4.80%, refunding series 2005A, due 2025
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.80%	4.80%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 5.00%, refunding series 2003B, due 2022
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%	5.00%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 4.75%, refunding series 2003A, due 2020
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.75%	4.75%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 5.50%, refunding series 1999A, due 2014
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%	5.50%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | 5.65%, series 1997A, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.65%	5.65%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Hawaii Electric Light, 3.83%, Series 2013A, due 2020
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.83%	3.83%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Hawaii Electric Light, 4.45%, Series 2013B, due 2022
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.45%	4.45%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Hawaii Electric Light, 4.84%, Series 2013C, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.84%	4.84%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Senior notes 3.79%, Series 2012A, due 2018
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.79%	3.79%
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Senior notes 4.55%, due 2023
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.55%	4.55%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Series H, 7.625% Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.625%	7.625%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | 4.60%, refunding series 2007B, due 2026
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.60%	4.60%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | 4.65%, series 2007A, due 2037
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%	4.65%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | 4.80%, refunding series 2005A, due 2025
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.80%	4.80%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | 5.65%, series 1997A, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.65%	5.65%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Maui Electric, 4.84%, Series 2013A, due 2027
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.84%	4.84%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Maui Electric, 5.65%, Series 2013B, due 2043
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.65%	5.65%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Senior notes 3.79%, Series 2012A, due 2018
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.79%	3.79%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Senior notes 4.03%, Series 2012B, due 2020
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.03%	4.03%
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) | Senior notes 4.55%, due 2023
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.55%	4.55%