<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000354707-11-000026.txt : 20110810
<SEC-HEADER>0000354707-11-000026.hdr.sgml : 20110810
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110810201736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000354707-11-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110810
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WACKER RICHARD F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233175

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08503
		FILM NUMBER:		111025712

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-08-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000354707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233175</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WACKER RICHARD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O P.O. BOX 730</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96808-0730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres &amp; CEO, Amer Savings Bank</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-08-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Richard F Wacker Living Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22417</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Remarks:

Exhibit List

  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kurt K. Murao, Atty-in-Fact for Richard F. Wacker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>wacker.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>Exhibit 24



POWER OF ATTORNEY



        Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of

 CHESTER A. RICHARDSON, KURT K. MURAO and JULIE R. SMOLINSKI, or any of them signing

singly, and with full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:



 (1)  prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's behalf, and

submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Form ID, including

amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and

passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required

by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC;



 (2) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an

officer and/or director of HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC. or any of its subsidiaries (the

"Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of

1934 and the rules thereunder, and any other forms or reports the undersigned may be required

to file in connection with the undersigned's ownership, acquisition, or disposition of securities of

the Company.



  This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned

is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and

transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a

signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.



       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be

executed as of this 12th day of May, 2011.







/s/ Richard F. Wacker

RICHARD F. WACKER

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
