Bank segment (HEI only) - Credit Risk Profile Based on Payment Activity for Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	$ 23,102	$ 26,099
Current	4,720,517	4,595,969
Total financing receivables	4,743,619	4,622,068
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Residential 1-4 family
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	11,310	19,759
Current	2,036,741	2,049,906
Total financing receivables	2,048,051	2,069,665
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Commercial real estate
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	2,416	0
Current	797,979	690,561
Total financing receivables	800,395	690,561
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Home equity line of credit
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	2,986	2,079
Current	860,177	844,215
Total financing receivables	863,163	846,294
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Residential land
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	255	415
Current	18,634	17,814
Total financing receivables	18,889	18,229
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Commercial construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
Current	126,768	100,796
Total financing receivables	126,768	100,796
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Residential construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
Current	16,080	14,089
Total financing receivables	16,080	14,089
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Commercial loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	2,226	1,226
Current	689,825	757,433
Total financing receivables	692,051	758,659
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
Consumer loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	3,909	2,620
Current	174,313	121,155
Total financing receivables	178,222	123,775
Recorded Investment greater than 90 days and accruing	0	0
30-59 days past due
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	11,504	7,371
30-59 days past due | Residential 1-4 family
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	5,467	4,967
30-59 days past due | Commercial real estate
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	2,416	0
30-59 days past due | Home equity line of credit
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	1,263	896
30-59 days past due | Residential land
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
30-59 days past due | Commercial construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
30-59 days past due | Residential construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
30-59 days past due | Commercial loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	413	125
30-59 days past due | Consumer loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	1,945	1,383
60-89 days past due
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	4,230	4,811
60-89 days past due | Residential 1-4 family
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	2,338	3,289
60-89 days past due | Commercial real estate
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
60-89 days past due | Home equity line of credit
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	381	706
60-89 days past due | Residential land
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
60-89 days past due | Commercial construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
60-89 days past due | Residential construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
60-89 days past due | Commercial loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	510	223
60-89 days past due | Consumer loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	1,001	593
Greater than 90 days
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	7,368	13,917
Greater than 90 days | Residential 1-4 family
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	3,505	11,503
Greater than 90 days | Commercial real estate
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
Greater than 90 days | Home equity line of credit
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	1,342	477
Greater than 90 days | Residential land
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	255	415
Greater than 90 days | Commercial construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
Greater than 90 days | Residential construction
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	0	0
Greater than 90 days | Commercial loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	1,303	878
Greater than 90 days | Consumer loans
Credit risk profile based on payment activity for loans
Total past due	$ 963	$ 644