Share-based compensation (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense (in dollars)	$ 2,800,000	$ 1,300,000	$ 5,200,000	$ 3,500,000
Income tax benefit (in dollars)	1,100,000	500,000	1,900,000	1,300,000
Amount of compensation expense capitalized	30,000	20,000	70,000	50,000
Nonqualified stock options (NQSOs)
Share-based compensation
Shares exercised		12,000		14,000
Weighted-average exercise price		$ 20.49		$ 20.49
Cash received from exercise (in dollars)		246,000		287,000
Intrinsic value of shares exercised (in dollars)		113,000		128,000
Tax benefit realized for the deduction of exercises (in dollars)		44,000		50,000
Stock appreciation rights (SARs)
Share-based compensation
Number of shares underlying SARs	102,000		102,000
Weighted-average remaining contractual life			9 months 18 days
Weighted-average exercise price	$ 26.18		$ 26.18
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense (in dollars)	900,000	300,000	1,600,000	1,100,000
Income tax benefit (in dollars)	300,000	100,000	600,000	400,000
As previously filed
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense (in dollars)		1,100,000		3,000,000
Income tax benefit (in dollars)		400,000		1,100,000
Difference
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense (in dollars)		200,000		500,000
Income tax benefit (in dollars)		$ 100,000		$ 200,000