Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationLongTermIncentivePlanLinkedToOtherPerformanceConditionsActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for long-term incentive plan awards that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number that were granted, vested, or forfeited during the year.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationLongTermIncentivePlanLinkedToTotalReturnToShareholdersTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of other activity and statistics relating to stock options. May include the number and weighted-average exercise prices of share options that were exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year as well as intrinsic value of shares exercised, information about cash received from exercises and tax benefits realized for the deduction of exercises.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationNonqualifiedStockOptionsActivityAndStatisticsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Disclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock awards that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of restricted stock awards granted, vested, or forfeited during the year.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockAwardsActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of stock appreciation rights exercise prices, by grouped ranges, including the upper and lower limits of the price range, the number of shares under stock appreciation rights, weighted-average exercise price and the remaining contractual option terms.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockAppreciationRightsByExercisePriceRangeTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of other activity and statistics relating to stock appreciation rights. May include the number and aggregate fair value of shares vested, intrinsic value and tax benefit from share exercises. Under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, may also include the dividend equivalent shares distributed, weighted average distribution price, intrinsic value of shares distributed and the tax benefit realized from distributions.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationStockAppreciationRightsAwardActivityAndStatisticsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of Long-Term Incentive Plan linked to total return to shareholders, including, but not limited to: (a) expected term of awards, (b) expected volatility of the entity's shares, (c) expected dividends, (d) risk-free rate(s), and (e) discount for post-vesting restrictions.

No definition available.

Name:	he_ScheduleOfShareBasedPaymentAwardLongTermIncentivePlanLinkedToTotalReturnToShareholdersValuationAssumptionsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	he_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsSharebasedPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the amount of total share-based compensation cost, including the amounts attributable to each share-based compensation plan and any related tax benefits.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Publisher FASB

-Number

-Article

-Subparagraph (h)(1)

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Paragraph 2

-Section 50

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfCompensationCostForShareBasedPaymentArrangementsAllocationOfShareBasedCompensationCostsByPlanTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock units that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of restricted stock units that were granted, vested, or forfeited during the year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Publisher FASB

-Number

-Article

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Paragraph 2

-Section 50

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockUnitsAwardActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of option exercise prices, by grouped ranges, including the upper and lower limits of the price range, the number of shares under option, weighted average exercise price and remaining contractual option terms.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansByExercisePriceRangeTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for stock appreciation rights awards that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of stock appreciation rights awards that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year.

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationStockAppreciationRightsAwardActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for share options (or share units) that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, vested and expected to vest, exercisable or convertible at the end of the year, and the number of share options or share units that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year.