HEI Exhibit 32.1

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer Furnished Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted by

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Report), I, Constance H. Lau, Chief Executive Officer of HEI, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The consolidated information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition as of December 31, 2008 and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008 of HEI and its subsidiaries.

/s/ Constance H. Lau

Constance H. Lau

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: February 27, 2009

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and will be retained by Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.