SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allowance for uncollectible accounts – electric utility | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,699	$ 1,959	$ 2,329
Charged to costs and expenses	2,383	3,653	1,384
Charged to other accounts	877	977	1,613
Deductions	3,838	4,890	3,367
Balance at end of period	1,121	1,699	1,959
Allowance for uncollectible interest – bank | Bank
Valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	1,679	1,514	1,661
Charged to costs and expenses	0	0	0
Charged to other accounts	155	165	0
Deductions	0	0	147
Balance at end of period	1,834	1,679	1,514
Allowance for losses for loans receivable – bank | Bank
Valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	50,038	45,618	40,116
Charged to costs and expenses	16,763	6,275	6,126
Charged to other accounts	2,977	4,571	4,926
Deductions	14,245	6,426	5,550
Balance at end of period	55,533	50,038	45,618
Allowance for mortgage-servicing assets – bank | Bank
Valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	0	209	251
Charged to costs and expenses		0	53
Charged to other accounts		(205)	0
Deductions		4	95
Balance at end of period		0	209
Deferred tax valuation allowance – HEI
Valuation and qualifying accounts
Balance at beginning of period	54	45	278
Charged to costs and expenses	0	9	17
Charged to other accounts	0	0	0
Deductions	16	0	250
Balance at end of period	$ 38	$ 54	$ 45