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Electric utility subsidiary - Commitments and contingencies (Details) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |
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Apr. 30, 2014 order | Sep. 30, 2014 item | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company | Sep. 30, 2014 Maui Electric Company (MECO) | Sep. 30, 2013 Maui Electric Company (MECO) | Sep. 30, 2014 Maui Electric Company (MECO) | Sep. 30, 2013 Maui Electric Company (MECO) | Mar. 31, 2012 Maui Electric Company (MECO) | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) | Apr. 30, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Sep. 30, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Sep. 30, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Feb. 07, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Oct. 31, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Mar. 01, 2014 Maximum Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries | Mar. 01, 2014 Minimum Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Environmental regulation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of EGUs impacted by proposed rules of MATS |  | 14 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of extension resulting in MATS compliance date |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period for which operations was stopped prior to merger |  | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional accrued investigation and estimated cleanup costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,600,000 |  | $ 3,600,000 |  | $ 3,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16.00% |  | 16.00% |  |  |  |  |
Estimated annual fee for greenhouse gas emissions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Annual revenue |  |  | 579,777,000 | 547,434,000 | 1,623,223,000 | 1,576,068,000 | 112,656,000 | 108,699,000 | 319,265,000 | 313,725,000 |  | 111,154,000 | 107,957,000 | 319,629,000 | 320,330,000 |  | 803,565,000 | 764,054,000 | 2,262,056,000 | 2,210,020,000 |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impact on earnings from recognition of AROs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Changes in the asset retirement obligation liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,106,000 | 48,431,000 |  |  |  |
Accretion expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 816,000 | 833,000 |  |  |  |
Liabilities settled |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (11,338,000) | (1,165,000) |  |  |  |
Revisions in estimated cash flows |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (916,000) |  |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32,584,000 | 47,183,000 | 32,584,000 | 47,183,000 |  |  |  |
Baseline capital project value to determine revenue adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,500,000 |  |
Proposed rate base adjustment, percent of previous rate base adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |  |
Proposed effective interest rate, revenue balancing account |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.25% | 1.25%
Effective interest rate, revenue balancing account |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.00% |  |  |
Number of orders from regulatory agency | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period to file required plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 120 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period to file demand response portfolio plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period to file implementation plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period for full implementation of plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period to file action plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proposal to file implementation proposal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 120 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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