Fair value measurements (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financial liabilities
Short-term borrowings-other than bank	$ 105,482,000	$ 83,693,000
Other bank borrowings	244,514,000	195,926,000
Carrying or notional amount
Financial assets
Money market funds	10,000	10,000
Available-for-sale investment and mortgage-related securities	529,007,000	671,358,000
Investment in stock of Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle	92,546,000	96,022,000
Loans receivable, net	4,115,415,000	3,763,238,000
Derivative assets	46,356,000
Financial liabilities
Deposit liabilities	4,372,477,000	4,229,916,000
Short-term borrowings-other than bank	105,482,000	83,693,000
Other bank borrowings	244,514,000	195,926,000
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,492,945,000	1,422,872,000
Derivative liabilities	4,732,000
Carrying or notional amount | American Savings Bank (ASB)
Financial liabilities
Loan commitments and unused lines and letters of credit	1,600,000,000	1,500,000,000
Notional amount of loans serviced	1,400,000,000	1,300,000,000
Estimated fair value
Financial assets
Money market funds	10,000	10,000
Available-for-sale investment and mortgage-related securities	529,007,000	671,358,000
Investment in stock of Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle	92,546,000	96,022,000
Loans receivable, net	4,211,290,000	3,957,752,000
Derivative assets	629,000
Financial liabilities
Deposit liabilities	4,374,377,000	4,235,527,000	[1]
Short-term borrowings-other than bank	105,482,000	83,693,000
Other bank borrowings	256,029,000	212,163,000
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,508,425,000	1,481,004,000
Derivative liabilities	26,000
Estimated fair value | Level 1
Financial assets
Derivative assets	98,000
Estimated fair value | Level 2
Financial assets
Money market funds	10,000	10,000
Available-for-sale investment and mortgage-related securities	529,007,000	671,358,000
Investment in stock of Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle	92,546,000	96,022,000
Derivative assets	531,000
Financial liabilities
Deposit liabilities	4,374,377,000	4,235,527,000	[1]
Short-term borrowings-other than bank	105,482,000	83,693,000
Other bank borrowings	256,029,000	212,163,000
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,508,425,000	1,481,004,000
Derivative liabilities	26,000
Estimated fair value | Level 3
Financial assets
Loans receivable, net	4,211,290,000	3,957,752,000
Estimated fair value | American Savings Bank (ASB)
Financial liabilities
Loan commitments and unused lines and letters of credit	200,000	1,200,000
Servicing rights on loans	15,700,000	11,900,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Fair value measurements on a recurring basis | Carrying or notional amount
Financial liabilities
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,217,945,000	1,147,872,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Fair value measurements on a recurring basis | Estimated fair value
Financial liabilities
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,228,966,000	1,181,631,000
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Fair value measurements on a recurring basis | Estimated fair value | Level 2
Financial liabilities
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	$ 1,228,966,000	$ 1,181,631,000

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