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Retirement benefits Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations and Fair Value of Plan Assets and Amounts Recognized in OCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability				$ (552,974)	$ (595,395)
Pension benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, balance at the beginning of the period	$ 1,847,228	$ 1,446,291
Service cost	66,260	49,264	$ 56,405
Interest cost	76,960	72,202	64,788
Actuarial losses (gains)	(124,239)	342,446
Benefits paid and expenses	(68,179)	(62,975)
Benefit obligation, balance at the end of the period	1,798,030	1,847,228	1,446,291
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the beginning of the period	1,266,060	1,186,669
Actual return on plan assets	(14,422)	81,123
Employer contributions	86,802	60,103
Benefits paid and expenses	(66,966)	(61,835)
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the end of the period	1,271,474	1,266,060	1,186,669
Accrued benefit asset (liability), balance				(526,556)	(581,168)
Other assets				12,509	12,800
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability				(539,065)	(593,968)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at beginning of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	639,831	317,544
Recognized during year - prior service credit (cost)	(4)	(88)
Recognized during year - net actuarial losses	(36,800)	(20,304)
Occurring during year - net actuarial losses (gains)	(21,264)	342,679
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	581,763	639,831	317,544
Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os				(538,784)	(592,291)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period				42,979	47,540
Net actuarial loss (gain)				581,951	640,015
Prior service gain				(188)	(184)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	639,831	317,544	317,544	581,763	639,831
Income taxes				(16,944)	(18,742)
AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits) balance at the end of the period				26,035	28,798
Pension benefits | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, balance at the beginning of the period	1,690,777	1,320,810
Service cost	64,262	47,597	54,482
Interest cost	70,529	65,979	59,119
Actuarial losses (gains)	(114,286)	314,210
Benefits paid and expenses	(63,037)	(57,819)
Transfers	1,445	0
Benefit obligation, balance at the end of the period	1,649,690	1,690,777	1,320,810
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the beginning of the period	1,129,005	1,058,260
Actual return on plan assets	(10,646)	69,242
Employer contributions	85,139	58,948
Benefits paid and expenses	(62,584)	(57,445)
Other	919	0
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the end of the period	1,141,833	1,129,005	1,058,260
Accrued benefit asset (liability), balance				(507,857)	(561,772)
Other liabilities (short-term)				(425)	(421)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability				(507,432)	(561,351)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at beginning of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	595,103	295,973
Recognized during year - prior service credit (cost)	(40)	(62)
Recognized during year - net actuarial losses	(33,371)	(18,459)
Occurring during year - net actuarial losses (gains)	(20,574)	317,651
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	541,118	595,103	295,973
Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os				(538,784)	(592,291)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period				2,334	2,812
Net actuarial loss (gain)				541,071	595,017
Prior service gain				47	86
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	595,103	295,973	295,973	541,118	595,103
Income taxes				(908)	(1,094)
AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits) balance at the end of the period				1,426	1,718
Other benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, balance at the beginning of the period	219,209	176,099
Service cost	3,927	3,490	4,306
Interest cost	9,011	8,550	7,569
Actuarial losses (gains)	(2,911)	39,098
Benefits paid and expenses	(7,696)	(8,028)
Benefit obligation, balance at the end of the period	221,540	219,209	176,099
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the beginning of the period	180,332	179,330
Actual return on plan assets	(2,866)	9,149
Employer contributions	917	(257)
Benefits paid and expenses	(7,696)	(7,890)
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the end of the period	170,687	180,332	179,330
Accrued benefit asset (liability), balance				(50,853)	(38,877)
Other assets				0	0
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability				(50,853)	(38,877)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at beginning of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	20,933	(21,722)
Recognized during year - prior service credit (cost)	1,793	1,793
Recognized during year - net actuarial losses	(1,796)	11
Occurring during year - net actuarial losses (gains)	11,620	40,851
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	32,550	20,933	(21,722)
Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os				(35,333)	(22,975)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period				(2,783)	(2,042)
Net actuarial loss (gain)				44,845	35,022
Prior service gain				(12,295)	(14,089)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	20,933	(21,722)	(21,722)	32,550	20,933
Income taxes				1,084	795
AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits) balance at the end of the period				(1,699)	(1,247)
Other benefits | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation, balance at the beginning of the period	211,760	169,579
Service cost	3,870	3,392	4,163
Interest cost	8,700	8,234	7,288
Actuarial losses (gains)	(2,860)	38,488
Benefits paid and expenses	(7,598)	(7,933)
Transfers	118	0
Benefit obligation, balance at the end of the period	213,990	211,760	169,579
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the beginning of the period	177,256	176,291
Actual return on plan assets	(2,712)	9,036
Employer contributions	864	(274)
Benefits paid and expenses	(7,598)	(7,797)
Other	120	0
Fair value of plan assets, balance at the end of the period	167,930	177,256	176,291
Accrued benefit asset (liability), balance				(46,060)	(34,504)
Other liabilities (short-term)				(518)	(460)
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans liability				(45,542)	(34,044)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Roll Forward]
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at beginning of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	20,090	(21,907)
Recognized during year - prior service credit (cost)	1,804	1,804
Recognized during year - net actuarial losses	(1,754)	0
Occurring during year - net actuarial losses (gains)	11,345	40,193
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	31,485	20,090	(21,907)
Cumulative impact of PUC D&Os				(35,333)	(22,975)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period				(3,848)	(2,885)
Net actuarial loss (gain)				43,784	34,192
Prior service gain				(12,299)	(14,102)
AOCI debit/(credit), balance at end of the period (excluding impact of PUC D&Os)	$ 20,090	$ (21,907)	$ (21,907)	31,485	20,090
Income taxes				1,497	1,122
AOCI debit/(credit), net of taxes (benefits) balance at the end of the period				$ (2,351)	$ (1,763)

X

- Definition

Represents the beginning and ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive income related to retirement benefit plans, excluding the impact of public utilities commission decision and orders.

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Tax effects to accumulated other comprehensive income related to benefit plans. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance.

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The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment and other expenses. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations.

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The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment and other expenses. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations and a decrease to plan assets.

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Defined Benefit Plan, Transfers Of Employees Between Entities

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Represents the accumulated other comprehensive income which has been impacted by public utilities commission decision and orders.

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The total of net gain (loss), prior service cost (credit), and transition assets (obligations), as well as minimum pension liability if still remaining, included in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan(s) because they have yet to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

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The pretax total of net gain (loss), prior service cost (credit), and transition assets (obligations), as well as minimum pension liability if still remaining, included in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan(s) because they have yet to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

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The pretax net amount of gains and losses that are not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost, and that are recognized as increases or decreases in other comprehensive income as they arise. Gains and losses are due to changes in the value of either the benefit obligation or the plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from a change in an actuarial assumption, or the consequence of a decision to temporarily deviate from the substantive plan.

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Amount related to the pretax cost of benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation, which has not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

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The difference between fair value of plan assets at the end of the period and the fair value at the beginning of the period, adjusted for contributions and payments of benefits during the period, and after adjusting for taxes and other expenses, as applicable.

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Amount of gain (loss) related to change in benefit obligation resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions, for example, but not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from the substantive plan.

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The aggregate net amount recognized in the balance sheet associated with the defined benefit plan(s). Will normally be the same as the Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan, Total.

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This represents the entire assets recognized in the balance sheet that are associated with the defined benefit plans.

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- Definition

1) For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value as of a date of all benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to that date. 2) For other postretirement defined benefit plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered to a particular date.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.

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The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

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Amount before tax of (increase) decrease in the value of the projected benefit obligation related to a change in an actuarial assumption and increase (decrease) in the value of the plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit.

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For a classified balance sheet, the amount recognized in balance sheet as a current liability associated with an underfunded defined benefit plan.

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