(4) Acquisition (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 Membership Interest Purchase Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Texadian Energy Inc
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 75,000,000	$ 14,000,000
Business acquisition purchase price allocation working capital			4,000,000
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Additional Disclosures, Acquisition Costs			18,000,000
Purchase of HIE, net of cash acquired		40,000,000
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Terms		The earnout payments, if any, are to be paid annually following each of the three calendar years beginning January 1, 2014 through the year ending December 31, 2016, in an amount equal to 20% of the consolidated annual gross margin of HIE in excess of $165.0 million during such calendar years, with an annual cap of $20.0 million
Total operating expenses		28,000,000
Deposit Assets		15,000,000
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Description		The next $5.0 million of Startup Expenses were borne by the Seller, with all Startup Expenses in excess of $20.0 million borne by Hawaii Pacific Energy. Due to the Startup Expenses exceeding $20.0 million, Hawaii Pacific Energy made an additional deposit of $7.0 million for the Startup Expenses on August 5, 2013. In addition, Hawaii Pacific Energy funded $2.3 million on July 23, 2013 for a major overhaul of a gas turbine engine used in the operations of the refinery's steam cogeneration.
Funding of purchase of HIE from supply and exchange agreements	384,900,000
Acquisition Related Expense	$ 1,000,000