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The actual consolidated debt to total consolidated capitalization ratio which the entity is required to maintain pursuant to a debt covenant.

No definition available.

Name:	he_DebtInstrumentCovenantConsolidatedDebtToTotalConsolidatedCapitalizationRatioActual
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Represents the consolidated subsidiary debt to total consolidated capitalization ratio which the entity is required to maintain pursuant to a debt covenant.

No definition available.

Name:	he_DebtInstrumentCovenantConsolidatedSubsidiaryDebtToTotalConsolidatedCapitalizationRatio
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The actual consolidated subsidiary debt to total consolidated capitalization ratio which the entity is required to maintain pursuant to a debt covenant.

No definition available.

Name:	he_DebtInstrumentCovenantConsolidatedSubsidiaryDebtToTotalConsolidatedCapitalizationRatioActual
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Represents the nonconsolidated capitalization ratio, which the entity is required to maintain pursuant to a debt covenant.

No definition available.

Name:	he_DebtInstrumentCovenantNonconsolidatedCapitalizationRatio
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Represents the actual nonconsolidated capitalization ratio, which the entity is required to maintain pursuant to a debt covenant.

No definition available.

Name:	he_DebtInstrumentCovenantNonconsolidatedCapitalizationRatioActual
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Line Of Credit Facility, Interest Rate For Initial Month

No definition available.

Name:	he_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateForInitialMonth
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line Of Credit Facility, Interest Rate For Subsequent Periods

No definition available.

Name:	he_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateForSubsequentPeriods
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Line Of Credit Facility, Subsequent Interest Rate Term

No definition available.

Name:	he_LineOfCreditFacilitySubsequentInterestRateTerm
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Represents the number of financial institutions with which the entity entered into a revolving Non Collateralized credit agreement with a letter of credit sub-facility.

No definition available.

Name:	he_NumberOfFinancialInstitutions
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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

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Period Type:	instant

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Period Type:	duration

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAbstract
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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=he_HawaiiElectricLightCompanyIncMember
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Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=he_MauiElectricCompanyLimitedMember
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Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=he_BankOfAmericanTermLoanExpiringMarch232018Member
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=he_EurodollarTermLoanMember
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