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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EguevTI4RsNFsvJDvDRgZOGMjKXtv+GlfYFB47QNaAsQAW6QV6m5Zo4rItUxaYb6
 bo156UCdwAygH1d2GgHOzg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104676-03-000005.txt : 20031016
<SEC-HEADER>0001104676-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031016191822
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104676-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031015
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031016

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000354707
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				990208097
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			HI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 RICHARDS ST
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8085435662

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 RICHARDS STREET
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MYERS A MAURICE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001104676

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08503
		FILM NUMBER:		03944694

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WASTE MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		1001 FANNIN, SUITE 4000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-512-6268

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 730
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96808
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000354707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001104676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MYERS A MAURICE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 730</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96808</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (HEI DRIP)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>142.0939</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>43.985</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10235.883</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><
natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (ML DRIP)</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1659</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares purchased pursuant to Stock Trading Plan dated as of 7/25/02.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Aggregate shares.  Shares held in Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) DRIP and Merrill Lynch (ML) DRIP (earned dividends are automatically reinvested in shares of HEI Common Stock under both plans).  HEI has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan which is available on the same terms to all shareholders and provides for the regular reinvestment of divide
nds in compliance with Rule 16b-2.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Molly M. Egged, Attorney-in-fact for A. Maurice Myers</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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