Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity and Common Equity (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Common stock including additional paid-in capital	Common stock Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Premium on capital stock Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,927,640	$ 1,728,325	$ 1,629,136	$ 105,388	$ 578,930	$ 324,766	$ 1,043,082	$ (26,262)	$ 925
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			107,460,000	15,805,000
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income for common stock	76,480	61,224				76,480	61,224
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	10,908	261						10,908	261
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses	18,002		$ 18,002
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses (in shares)			727,000
Common stock dividends	(66,848)	(46,800)				(66,848)	(46,800)
Common stock issuance expenses		(4)			(4)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	1,966,182	1,743,006	$ 1,647,138	$ 105,388	578,926	334,398	1,057,506	(15,354)	1,186
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016			108,187,000	15,805,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,066,753	1,799,787	$ 1,660,910	$ 106,818	601,491	438,972	1,091,800	(33,129)	(322)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	108,583,413		108,583,000	16,020,000
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income for common stock	$ 72,854	47,109				72,854	47,109
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	3,355	499						3,355	499
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses	(507)		$ (507)
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses (in shares)			202,000
Common stock dividends	(67,426)	(43,884)				(67,426)	(43,884)
Common stock issuance expenses		(5)			(5)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 2,075,029	$ 1,803,506	$ 1,660,403	$ 106,818	$ 601,486	$ 444,400	$ 1,095,025	$ (29,774)	$ 177
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017	108,785,486		108,785,000	16,020,000