Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of future minimum lease payments

HEI's consolidated and the Utilities' future minimum lease payments are as follows:

(in millions)	HEI		Hawaiian Electric
2017	$	12	$	6
2018	9		4
2019	7		4
2020	5		3
2021	4		3
Thereafter	8		4
	$	45	$	24

Schedule of earnings per share basic and diluted under two-class method

Under the two-class method of computing EPS, HEI's EPS was comprised as follows for both participating securities (i.e., restricted shares that became fully vested in the fourth quarter of 2014) and unrestricted common stock:

	2014
	Basic		Diluted
Distributed earnings	$	1.24	$	1.24
Undistributed earnings	0.41		0.39
	$	1.65	$	1.63

Schedule of new accounting pronounements

The table below summarizes the impact to the prior period financial statements of the adoption of ASU No. 2015-03:

(in thousands)	As previously  filed		Adjustment from adoption of ASU No. 2015-03			As currently reported
December 31, 2015
HEI Consolidated Balance Sheet and Note 3 - Segment financial information (Total assets)
Other assets	$	488,635	$	(8,178	)	$	480,457
Total assets and Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	11,790,196		(8,178		)	11,782,018
Long-term debt, net-other than bank	1,586,546		(8,178		)	1,578,368
Total liabilities	9,828,263		(8,178		)	9,820,085
Hawaiian Electric Consolidated Balance Sheet and Note 3 - Segment financial information (Total assets)
Unamortized debt expense	8,341		(7,844		)	497
Total other long-term assets	908,327		(7,844		)	900,483
Total assets and Total capitalization and liabilities	5,680,054		(7,844		)	5,672,210
Long-term debt, net	1,286,546		(7,844		)	1,278,702
Total capitalization	3,049,164		(7,844		)	3,041,320
Note 4 - Hawaiian Electric Consolidating Balance Sheet
Hawaiian Electric (parent only)
Unamortized debt expense	5,742		(5,383		)	359
Total other long-term assets	662,430		(5,383		)	657,047
Total assets and Total capitalization and liabilities	4,481,558		(5,383		)	4,476,175
Long-term debt, net	880,546		(5,383		)	875,163
Total capitalization	2,631,164		(5,383		)	2,625,781
Hawaii Electric Light
Unamortized debt expense	1,494		(1,420		)	74
Total other long-term assets	130,749		(1,420		)	129,329
Total assets and Total capitalization and liabilities	955,935		(1,420		)	954,515
Long-term debt, net	215,000		(1,420		)	213,580
Total capitalization	514,702		(1,420		)	513,282
Maui Electric
Unamortized debt expense	1,105		(1,041		)	64
Total other long-term assets	115,148		(1,041		)	114,107
Total assets and Total capitalization and liabilities	831,201		(1,041		)	830,160
Long-term debt, net	191,000		(1,041		)	189,959
Total capitalization	459,725		(1,041		)	458,684

Summary of amounts in income tax expense related to investments in qualifying affordable housing projects

The table below summarizes the amounts in income tax expense related to ASB's investments in qualifying affordable housing projects:

Years ended December 31	2016			2015			2014
(in millions)
Amounts in income taxes related to investments in qualifying affordable housing projects
Amortization recognized in the provision for income taxes	$	(5.8	)	$	(5.4	)	$	(3.6	)
Tax credits and other tax benefits recognized in the provision for income taxes	8.4			8.0			5.4
Net benefit to income tax expense	$	2.6		$	2.6		$	1.8