<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000046195</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANK OF HAWAII CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHURCHILL CLINTON R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 KAMOKILA BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KAPOLEI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96707</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Direc. Deferred Comp Plan - BOHC Fund</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>63.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.328</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3377.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Investment election by reporting person to acquire stock
under the Director's Deferred Compensation Plan at a price
equal to the price of derivative security set forth in
column 8 (1 for 1).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Investment election by reporting person to acquire
Bank of Hawaii Corporation stock under the Directors'
Deferred Compensation Plan restated January 1, 1996 and
amended September 1, 1996.  Distributions to be made at
termination of service as a Director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Between July 1 and September 30, shares were acquired with
reinvested dividends pursuant to the Bank of Hawaii
Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CLINTON CHURCHILL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

