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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001502383</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Financial Services Harbor, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CARLYLE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 220S</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001475444</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERTRUST CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>(CAYMAN) LIMITED, 190 ELGIN AVENUE,</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>KY1-9005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001548636</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings Sub L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERTRUST CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>(CAYMAN) LIMITED, 190 ELGIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>KY1-9005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001502382</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Financial Services, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERTRUST CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>(CAYMAN) LIMITED, 190 ELGIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>KY1-9005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001502381</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TCG Financial Services, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERTRUST CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>(CAYMAN) LIMITED, 190 ELGIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>KY1-9005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001548624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Group Management L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CARLYLE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 220S</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001527166</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Group L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CARLYLE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 220S</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001548629</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Holdings II GP L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CARLYLE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 220S</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001548630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlyle Holdings II L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CARLYLE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. NW, SUITE 220S</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3802694</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4269312</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Carlyle Financial Services Harbor, L.P. is the record holder of the common shares reported herein.  Carlyle Group Management L.L.C. is the general partner of The Carlyle Group L.P., which is a publicly traded entity listed on NASDAQ. The Carlyle Group L.P. is the managing member of Carlyle Holdings II GP L.L.C., which is the general partner of Carlyle Holdings II L.P., which is the general partner of TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings, L.P., which is the general partner of TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings Sub L.P., which is the sole shareholder of Carlyle Financial Services, Ltd., which is the general partner of TCG Financial Services, L.P., which is the general partner of Carlyle Financial Services Harbor, L.P.  Accordingly, each of the foregoing entities may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned of record by Carlyle Financial Services Harbor, L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlyle Group Management L.L.C., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>The Carlyle Group L.P., by: Carlyle Group Management L.L.C., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlyle Holdings II GP L.L.C., by: The Carlyle Group L.P., by: Carlyle Group Management L.L.C., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlyle Holdings II L.P., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings, L.P., by: Carlyle Holdings II L.P., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings Sub  L.P., by: TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings, L.P., by: Carlyle Holdings II L.P., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, attorney-in-fact for Daniel D'Aniello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlyle Financial Services, Ltd., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, Authorized Person</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TCG Financial Services, L.P., by: Carlyle Financial Services, Ltd., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, Authorized Person</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carlyle Financial Services Harbor, L.P., by: TCG Financial Services, L.P., by: Carlyle Financial Services, Ltd., by: /s/ Ann Siebecker, Authorized Person</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
