SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT- Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 170,210,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 163,406,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 140,548,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	172,762,000us-gaap_Depreciation	160,061,000us-gaap_Depreciation	150,389,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Increase in deferred income taxes	59,184,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	80,399,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	90,848,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	(277,000)	(430,000)	(61,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Increase (decrease) in accounts and interest payable	(92,294,000)	(23,153,000)	(39,738,000)
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability	22,251,000	(33,014,000)	(228,000)
Change in other assets and liabilities	(93,400,000)	(2,779,000)	(94,734,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	301,479,000	327,146,000	234,542,000
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(339,721,000)	(353,879,000)	(325,480,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(568,508,000)	(563,760,000)	(427,047,000)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less	13,490,000	21,789,000	14,872,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	125,000,000	286,000,000	457,000,000
Repayment of long-term debt	(111,400,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(216,000,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(375,500,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	277,000	430,000	61,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	26,898,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepurchaseOfEquity	55,086,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepurchaseOfEquity	23,613,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepurchaseOfEquity
Common stock dividends	(126,458,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(98,383,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(96,202,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	222,535,000	236,988,000	141,902,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,494,000)	374,000	(50,603,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	220,036,000	219,662,000	270,265,000
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31	175,542,000	220,036,000	219,662,000
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	2,461,000	41,692,000	41,295,000
Common stock
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	2,461,000	41,692,000	41,295,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	168,320,000	161,516,000	138,658,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Equity in net income	(188,534,000)	(180,359,000)	(157,883,000)
Common stock dividends/distributions received from subsidiaries	124,492,000	121,578,000	118,044,000
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	575,000	596,000	672,000
Other amortization	786,000	800,000	845,000
Increase in deferred income taxes	(15,913,000)	15,228,000	150,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	(277,000)	(430,000)	(61,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Increase in accounts receivable	(2,687,000)	(2,167,000)	(475,000)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and interest payable	(871,000)	(23,420,000)	19,995,000
Changes in prepaid and accrued income taxes	15,867,000	(15,604,000)	(4,861,000)
Increase (decrease) in defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability	10,472,000	(6,449,000)	1,805,000
Change in other assets and liabilities	(11,436,000)	10,985,000	10,229,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	100,794,000	82,274,000	127,118,000
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(74,000)	(201,000)	(410,000)
Investments in subsidiaries	(40,000,000)	(78,500,000)	(44,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,074,000)	(78,701,000)	(44,410,000)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in notes payable to subsidiaries with original maturities of three months or less	(222,000)	56,000	(1,797,000)
Net increase in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less	13,490,000	21,788,000	14,873,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	125,000,000	50,000,000	0
Repayment of long-term debt	(100,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	277,000	430,000	61,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	26,898,000	55,086,000	23,613,000
Common stock dividends	(126,458,000)	(98,383,000)	(96,202,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(61,015,000)	(21,023,000)	(66,452,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(295,000)	(17,450,000)	16,256,000
Cash and cash equivalents, January 1	571,000	18,021,000	1,765,000
Cash and cash equivalents, December 31	276,000	571,000	18,021,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. \| ASB Hawaii, Inc. \| Consolidated subsidiary
Cash flows from financing activities
Accounts receivable reduction	2,400,000	2,300,000	1,800,000
HEI notes payable increase to ASHI	2,500,000	2,500,000	2,500,000
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. \| Common stock
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock: Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	$ 0	$ 24,000,000	$ 24,000,000

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.

No definition available.