<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-03-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000701347</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001515661</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hudson David William</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 S KING ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HONOLULU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>HI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>96813</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5285</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>David W. Hudson and Dana E. Kokubum Family Trust dtd 2/1/99</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>107.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-06-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Diane Nakasone, attorney-in-fact for David W. Hudson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
