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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300711</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Anchorage Advisors Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300650</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Davis Anthony Lynn</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300710</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ulrich Kevin Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300714</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9463095</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares of the issuer's common stock, no par value (&quot;Shares&quot;), are held for the account of ACMO-CPF, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Anchorage Advisors Management, L.L.C. is the sole managing member of Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. (f/k/a Anchorage Advisors, L.L.C.), the investment advisor to Anchorage Capital Master Offshore, Ltd., the sole member of ACMO-CPF, L.L.C. All investment and voting decisions with respect to the Shares beneficially owned by the reporting persons have been, and will continue to be, made by Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. Mr. Davis is the President of Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. and a managing member of Anchorage Advisors Management, L.L.C.  Mr. Ulrich is the Chief Executive Officer of Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. and the other managing member of Anchorage Advisors Management, L.L.C.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each of the reporting persons may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Shares for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;). Each of the reporting persons disclaims beneficial ownership thereof within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Exchange Act except to the extent, if any, of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:  /s/ Kevin M. Ulrich, Managing Member of Anchorage Advisors Management, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:  /s/ Natalie Birrell, Chief Operating Officer of Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:  /s/ Anthony L. Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:  /s/ Kevin M. Ulrich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
