8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: December 22, 2008

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter	Commission File Number	I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.	1-8503	99-0208097
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.	1-4955	99-0040500

State of Hawaii

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

900 Richards Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(808) 543-5662—Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI)

(808) 543-7771—Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO)

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On December 22, 2008, HECO issued a news release, “Hawaiian Electric Company Names New President & CEO.” A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits

99 News release dated December 22, 2008

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The signature of the undersigned companies shall be deemed to relate only to matters having reference to such companies and any subsidiaries thereof.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.	HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
(Registrant)	(Registrant)
/s/ Curtis Y. Harada	/s/ Tayne S. Y. Sekimura
Curtis Y. Harada	Tayne S. Y. Sekimura
Controller and Acting Financial Vice President, Treasurer,     and Chief Financial Officer	Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration (Principal Financial Officer of HECO)
(Principal Financial Officer of HEI)	Date: December 23, 2008
Date: December 23, 2008

1

EX-99

Exhibit 99

December 22, 2008

Contact: Lynne Unemori                                                                                                               — For Immediate Release —

Phone: (808) 543-7972

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY NAMES NEW PRESIDENT & CEO

HONOLULU — Hawaiian Electric Company, subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) (NYSE - HE), today announced that Richard M. Rosenblum has been named President and CEO, effective January 1, 2009. Rosenblum replaces T. Michael May, who stepped down as President and CEO in August of this year.

Rosenblum, age 58, comes to Hawaii with 32 years of experience in all phases of utility operations at Southern California Edison (SCE), California’s largest electric utility. Most recently, he held the position of Senior Vice President of Generation, responsible for all of SCE’s power generation facilities. During that tenure, Rosenblum helped initiate the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic project, which aims to install 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity on commercial rooftops around Southern California.

Previously, he served for over seven years as senior vice president of the Transmission and Distribution business unit, responsible for the delivery of electricity in SCE’s 50,000-square-mile service territory. He has also held the positions of vice president of Engineering and Technical Services and vice president of SCE’s Distribution business unit, which included responsibility for customer service.

He has a background in nuclear generation, previously holding management positions at SCE’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and serving as Chief Nuclear Officer for the company. Rosenblum earned bachelors and masters degrees in nuclear engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Rosenblum and his wife Michele have been part-time residents of Hawaii for over 20 years, with a home on the Big Island.

— more —

Hawaiian Electric Names New President & CEO

December 22, 2008

Page 2 of 2

“Dick brings broad experience in all major areas of the utility business, proven leadership skills, and a belief in our strategic vision to help Hawaii create a clean energy future,” said Constance Lau, HEI President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Hawaiian Electric Company Board. “He has a reputation as an astute, open and approachable leader, qualities essential for the increasing collaboration needed in our business.”

“This is a pivotal time for the energy industry, especially in Hawaii. I am pleased to have the opportunity be a part of these efforts, working with the company’s solid management team,” said Rosenblum. “Having been blessed to spend quite a bit of time here over the past 20 years, I appreciate that Hawaii is a unique and special place and that it is important to find solutions that are right for the Islands. I firmly believe that a utility must have a long-term vision developed in cooperation with the communities it serves and I expect to learn a lot by listening to the community, our employees, and our other stakeholders.”

Hawaiian Electric Company, and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company, supply the energy needs of over 400,000 customers or 95% of Hawaii’s population.

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