-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DD65xTggFWDeu3pTDL6wVL1jGcVnmzuIEDSdMeM1XTQQw14k79R8lZILhPRasHHd
 W1I96/RvWhyQUNgGvcfL0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104676-04-000003.txt : 20040416
<SEC-HEADER>0001104676-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040416
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040416181935
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104676-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040415
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040416

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:		04739260

	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>2004-04-15</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>2004-04-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>127.4407</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.0424</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10746.6626</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (ML DRIP)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1702</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares purchase pursuant to Stock Trading Plan as of 7/25/02.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Aggregate shares.  Shares held in Hawaiian Electric Industries DRIP and Merrill Lynch DRIP (earned dividends are automatically reinvested in shares of HEI Common Stock under both plans).  HEI has a DRIP which is available on the same terms to all shareholders and provides for the regular reinvestment of dividends in compliance with Rule 16b-2.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter C. Lewis for A. Maurice Myers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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