Fair value measurements (Details) (Unused lines of credit, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013
Unused lines of credit
Off-balance sheet financial instruments
HECO-obligated preferred securities of trust subsidiary	$ 0

The fair value of financial liabilities, which are not recognized in the financial statements (off-balance sheet) because they fail to meet some other criterion for recognition.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureOffbalanceSheetRisksAmountLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant