Share-based compensation (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 Nonqualified stock options (NQSOs)	Mar. 31, 2014 Nonqualified stock options (NQSOs)	Mar. 31, 2014 Stock appreciation rights (SARs)	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock appreciation rights (SARs)	Mar. 31, 2014 Stock appreciation rights (SARs) 2004	Mar. 31, 2014 Stock appreciation rights (SARs) 2005	Mar. 31, 2014 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2013 Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense (in dollars)	$ 2,400,000	$ 2,100,000							$ 700,000	$ 700,000
Income tax benefit (in dollars)	800,000	800,000							300,000	300,000
Share-based compensation expense capitalized	40,000	30,000
Lower range of exercise prices (in dollars per share)					$ 26.02
Upper range of exercise prices (in dollars per share)					$ 26.18
Range of exercise prices (in dollars per share)							$ 26.02	$ 26.18
Number of shares underlying SARs					164,000		62,000	102,000
Weighted-average remaining contractual life					8 months 12 days		1 month 6 days	1 year
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)					$ 26.12		$ 26.02	$ 26.18
Outstanding shares (in shares)				0		164,000
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)						$ 26.12
Aggregate intrinsic value (in dollars)					0
Shares exercised			2,000
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 20.49
Cash received from exercise (in dollars)			41,000
Intrinsic value of shares exercised (in dollars)			15,000
Tax benefit realized for the deduction of exercises (in dollars)			$ 6,000