This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from consolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 39,486,000	$ 48,707,000	$ 41,061,000	$ 34,152,000	$ 14,309,000	$ 48,177,000	$ 39,273,000	$ 38,789,000	$ 163,406,000	$ 140,548,000	$ 140,120,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment									160,061,000	150,389,000	148,152,000
Increase in deferred income taxes									80,399,000	90,848,000	79,444,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements									(430,000)	(61,000)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities
Decrease in accounts, interest and dividends payable									(23,153,000)	(39,738,000)	(34,480,000)
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability									(33,014,000)	(228,000)	(6,922,000)
Change in other assets and liabilities									(2,779,000)	(94,734,000)	(53,966,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities									327,146,000	234,542,000	250,366,000
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures									(353,879,000)	(325,480,000)	(235,116,000)
Other									3,516,000	2,677,000	(2,974,000)
Net cash used in investing activities									(563,760,000)	(427,047,000)	(326,787,000)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less									21,789,000	14,872,000	43,898,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt									286,000,000	457,000,000	125,000,000
Repayment of long-term debt									(216,000,000)	(375,500,000)	(150,000,000)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements									430,000	61,000	0
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock									55,086,000	23,613,000	15,979,000
Common stock dividends									(98,383,000)	(96,202,000)	(106,812,000)
Other									(1,187,000)	(2,645,000)	(710,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									236,988,000	141,902,000	16,035,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									374,000	(50,603,000)	(60,386,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1				219,662,000				270,265,000	219,662,000	270,265,000	330,651,000
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31	220,036,000				219,662,000				220,036,000	219,662,000	270,265,000
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan									41,692,000	41,295,000	21,217,000
Common stock
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan									41,692,000	41,295,000	21,217,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income									161,516,000	138,658,000	138,230,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Equity in net income									(180,359,000)	(157,883,000)	(158,722,000)
Common stock dividends/distributions received from subsidiaries									121,578,000	118,044,000	128,558,000
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment									596,000	672,000	227,000
Other amortization									800,000	845,000	981,000
Increase in deferred income taxes									15,228,000	150,000	276,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements									(430,000)	(61,000)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable									(2,167,000)	(475,000)	412,000
Decrease in accounts, interest and dividends payable									(23,420,000)	19,995,000	1,324,000
Changes in prepaid and accrued income taxes									(15,604,000)	(4,861,000)	3,550,000
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability									(6,449,000)	1,805,000	5,313,000
Change in other assets and liabilities									10,985,000	10,229,000	(1,880,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities									82,274,000	127,118,000	118,269,000
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures									(201,000)	(410,000)	(110,000)
Investments in subsidiaries									(78,500,000)	(44,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Other									0	0	(4,206,000)
Net cash used in investing activities									(78,701,000)	(44,410,000)	(44,316,000)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net decrease in notes payable to subsidiaries with original maturities of three months or less									56,000	(1,797,000)	(1,757,000)
Net increase in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less									21,788,000	14,873,000	43,897,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt									50,000,000	0	125,000,000
Repayment of long-term debt									(50,000,000)	(7,000,000)	(150,000,000)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements									430,000	61,000	0
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock									55,086,000	23,613,000	15,979,000
Common stock dividends									(98,383,000)	(96,202,000)	(106,812,000)
Other									0	0	(35,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(21,023,000)	(66,452,000)	(73,728,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(17,450,000)	16,256,000	225,000
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1				18,021,000				1,765,000	18,021,000	1,765,000	1,540,000
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31	571,000				18,021,000				571,000	18,021,000	1,765,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. \| ASHI \| Consolidated subsidiary
Cash flows from financing activities
Accounts receivable reduction									2,300,000	1,800,000	1,300,000
HEI notes payable increase to ASHI									2,500,000	2,500,000	2,000,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. \| Common stock
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan									$ 24,000,000	$ 24,000,000	$ 12,000,000