<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000354707-20-000039.txt : 20200219
<SEC-HEADER>0000354707-20-000039.hdr.sgml : 20200219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200219155633
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000354707-20-000039
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hazelton Gregory C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001647110

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08503
		FILM NUMBER:		20629527

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 NW SECOND AVENUE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000354707
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				990208097
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			HI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 BISHOP STREET, SUITE 2900
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8085435662

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 730
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96808-0730
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000354707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001647110</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hazelton Gregory C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O P.O. BOX 730</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96808-0730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12564</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43931</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7089</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.40</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38539</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares awarded under the 2017-2019 Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan for 2017-2019 performance period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Closing stock price on February 14, 2020</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes accrued dividend equivalents (as denominated in shares of HE common stock) from January 31, 2017 (first RSU grants in 2017) to date.  Dividend equivalents accrue in HE common stock with respect to outstanding RSUs when and as dividends are paid.  Accrued dividend equivalents are denominated in HE common stock and paid upon vesting in shares of HE common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sean K. Clark, Atty-in-Fact for Gregory C. Hazelton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
