SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Subsidiaries (herein referred to as the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been made and include all normal recurring adjustments. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In December 2015, we acquired a 50% ownership interest in a mortgage loan origination and brokerage company, One Hawaii HomeLoans, LLC. The bank concluded that the investment meets the consolidation requirements under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation." The bank concluded that the entity meets the definition of a variable interest entity and that we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity. Accordingly, the investment was consolidated into our financial statements. One Hawaii HomeLoans, LLC was terminated in 2017, and final payment of taxes and distributions to members was made in March 2018. We have 50% ownership interests in three other mortgage loan origination and brokerage companies which are accounted for using the equity method and are included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries: Gentry HomeLoans, LLC, Haseko HomeLoans, LLC and Island Pacific HomeLoans, LLC. We also had 50% ownership interest in one additional mortgage loan origination and brokerage company, Pacific Access Mortgage, LLC, which was also accounted for using the equity method and was included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries. Pacific Access Mortgage, LLC was terminated in 2017, and final payment of taxes and distributions to members was made in March 2018. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we voluntarily changed our accounting policy for investments in low income housing tax credit ("LIHTC") partnerships from the cost method to the proportional amortization method using the practical expedient available under ASC 323, "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures", which permits an investor to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to only the tax credits allocated to the investor. We believe the proportional amortization method is preferable because it better reflects the economics of an investment that is made for the primary purpose of receiving tax credits and other tax benefits. In addition to a change in the timing of the recognition of amortization expense on LIHTC investments, amortization expense on LIHTC investments is now reflected in the income tax expense line, which provides users a better understanding of the nature of the returns of such investments, instead of in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. The change did not impact net income, the consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated statements of cash flows. We also have non-controlling equity investments in affiliates that are accounted for under the cost method and are included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries. Our investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries accounted for under the equity, proportional amortization and cost methods were $0.1 million, $14.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, at March 31, 2019 and $0.2 million, $11.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018. Our policy for determining impairment of these investments includes an evaluation of whether a loss in value of an investment is other than temporary. Evidence of a loss in value includes absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment. We perform impairment tests whenever indicators of impairment are present. If the value of an investment declines and it is considered other than temporary, the investment is written down to its respective fair value in the period in which this determination is made. The Company sponsors the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, which is not consolidated in the Company's financial statements. Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2019 presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company's reported net income or shareholders' equity.

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Subsidiaries (herein referred to as the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been made and include all normal recurring adjustments. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In December 2015, we acquired a 50% ownership interest in a mortgage loan origination and brokerage company, One Hawaii HomeLoans, LLC. The bank concluded that the investment meets the consolidation requirements under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation." The bank concluded that the entity meets the definition of a variable interest entity and that we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity. Accordingly, the investment was consolidated into our financial statements. One Hawaii HomeLoans, LLC was terminated in 2017, and final payment of taxes and distributions to members was made in March 2018.

We have 50% ownership interests in three other mortgage loan origination and brokerage companies which are accounted for using the equity method and are included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries: Gentry HomeLoans, LLC, Haseko HomeLoans, LLC and Island Pacific HomeLoans, LLC. We also had 50% ownership interest in one additional mortgage loan origination and brokerage company, Pacific Access Mortgage, LLC, which was also accounted for using the equity method and was included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries. Pacific Access Mortgage, LLC was terminated in 2017, and final payment of taxes and distributions to members was made in March 2018.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, we voluntarily changed our accounting policy for investments in low income housing tax credit ("LIHTC") partnerships from the cost method to the proportional amortization method using the practical expedient available under ASC 323, "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures", which permits an investor to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to only the tax credits allocated to the investor. We believe the proportional amortization method is preferable because it better reflects the economics of an investment that is made for the primary purpose of receiving tax credits and other tax benefits. In addition to a change in the timing of the recognition of amortization expense on LIHTC investments, amortization expense on LIHTC investments is now reflected in the income tax expense line, which provides users a better understanding of the nature of the returns of such investments, instead of in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. The change did not impact net income, the consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated statements of cash flows.

We also have non-controlling equity investments in affiliates that are accounted for under the cost method and are included in investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries.

Our investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries accounted for under the equity, proportional amortization and cost methods were $0.1 million, $14.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, at March 31, 2019 and $0.2 million, $11.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018. Our policy for determining impairment of these investments includes an evaluation of whether a loss in value of an investment is other than temporary. Evidence of a loss in value includes absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment. We perform impairment tests whenever indicators of impairment are present. If the value of an investment declines and it is considered other than temporary, the investment is written down to its respective fair value in the period in which this determination is made.

The Company sponsors the Central Pacific Bank Foundation, which is not consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2019 presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company's reported net income or shareholders' equity.