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Exhibit 23(a)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 18, 2011 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Los Angeles, California
November 4, 2011

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Exhibit 23(a)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM