<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001183204-04-000006
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040831
<FILING-DATE>20040831
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040831
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GUILD ALICE F
<CIK>0001183204
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31567
<FILM-NUMBER>041009164
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2106 KEEAUMOKU STREET
<CITY>HONOLULU
<STATE>HI
<ZIP>96813
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP
<CIK>0000701347
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6022
<IRS-NUMBER>990212597
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>HI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>220 S KING ST
<CITY>HONOLULU
<STATE>HI
<ZIP>96813
<PHONE>8085440500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX 3590
<CITY>HONOLULU
<STATE>HI
<ZIP>96811
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CPB INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000701347</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183204</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUILD ALICE F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2106 KEEAUMOKU STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96813</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.9375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.9375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.9375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-07-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-07-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options for 24,000 shares were originally granted on 7/30/1997.  The grant was exercisable in eight equal annual installments beginning on 7/30/1998.  This transaction represents the exercise of the remaining installments which are exercisable.  Due to the director's retirement on 7/31/2004, the final installment of 3,000 options which would have been exercisable on 7/30/2005 has been forfeited.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alice F. Guild</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
