Bank segment (HEI only) Investment Securities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Amortized Cost
Due in one year or less	$ 0
Due after one year through five years	34,953,000
Due after five years through ten years	47,131,000
Due after ten years	37,423,000
Total amortized cost	119,507,000
Mortgage-related securities-FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA - amortized cost	430,120,000
Total available-for-sale securities, amortized cost	549,627,000	535,090,000
Fair value
Due in one year or less	0
Due after one year through five years	35,007,000
Due after five years through ten years	47,885,000
Due after ten years	36,668,000
Total fair value	119,560,000
Mortgage-related securities-FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA - fair value	430,834,000
Estimated fair value	550,394,000	529,007,000
Gains (losses) from sales of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds	79,564,000	71,367,000	3,548,000
Available-for-sale securities pledged at carrying value	88,600,000	87,100,000
Available-for-sale securities, pledged at carrying value as collateral for securities sold under agreements to repurchase	230,200,000	187,100,000
Interest income from taxable and non-taxable investment securities
Taxable	11,666,000	11,474,000	12,309,000
Non-taxable	279,000	1,621,000	1,513,000
Total	11,945,000	13,095,000	13,822,000
Mortgage-related securities - FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA
Gains (losses) from sales of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds	79,600,000	71,400,000	3,500,000
Gross gains	2,800,000	1,200,000	100,000
Gross losses	0	0	0
U.S. Treasury and federal agency obligations
Amortized Cost
Total available-for-sale securities, amortized cost		83,193,000
Fair value
Estimated fair value		80,973,000
Municipal bonds
Amortized Cost
Total available-for-sale securities, amortized cost		76,904,000
Fair value
Estimated fair value		78,590,000
FHLB Seattle
Interest income from taxable and non-taxable investment securities
Cost method investments	$ 69,300,000	$ 92,500,000