Exhibit 23 ---------- [KPMG LLP letterhead] ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT To the Trustees of Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust I: We consent to incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333- 18809, 333-18809-01, 333-18809-02, 333-18809-03 and 333-18809-04 on Form S-3 of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust I, Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust II, Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust III and HEI Preferred Funding, LP of our report dated January 23, 2001, relating to the balance sheets of Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust I as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related statements of earnings, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000, which report appears in this 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Hawaiian Electric Industries Capital Trust I. /s/ KPMG LLP Honolulu Hawaii March 26, 2001