Bank segment (HEI only) Mortgage Servicing Rights and Valuation Allowance Roll Forward (Details) (American Savings Bank (ASB), USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Roll Forward]
Ending balance	$ 11,540,000	$ 11,687,000
Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	11,938,000	11,316,000	8,402,000
Amount capitalized	1,637,000	2,611,000	4,845,000
Amortization	(1,731,000)	(1,802,000)	(1,750,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment	(95,000)	(187,000)	(181,000)
Ending balance	11,749,000	11,938,000	11,316,000
Valuation Allowance [Roll Forward]
Valuation allowance, beginning balance	251,000	498,000	175,000
Provision (recovery)	53,000	(60,000)	504,000
Other-than-temporary impairment	(95,000)	(187,000)	(181,000)
Valuation allowance, ending balance	209,000	251,000	498,000
Net carrying amount	11,540,000	11,687,000	10,818,000
Estimated Aggregate Amortization Expenses of Mortgage Servicing Rights [Abstract]
2015	1,700,000
2016	1,500,000
2017	1,300,000
2018	1,100,000
2019	$ 1,000,000