Earnings per share and shareholders' equity (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ (16,750)	$ (26,423)
Current period other comprehensive income	2,756	(9,263)
Ending balance	(13,994)	(35,686)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(3,663)	10,761
Current period other comprehensive income	1,691	(11,462)
Ending balance	(1,972)	(701)
Unrealized losses on derivatives
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(525)	(760)
Current period other comprehensive income	177	177
Ending balance	(348)	(583)
Retirement benefit plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	(12,562)	(36,424)
Current period other comprehensive income	888	2,022
Ending balance	(11,674)	(34,402)
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries \| Retirement benefit plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance	608	(970)
Current period other comprehensive income	32	52
Ending balance	$ 640	$ (918)

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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