<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE
30, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000046207
<NAME> HECO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,765,348
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         168,548
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        11,524
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 136,228
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,081,648
<COMMON>                                        82,031
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      271,480
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            356,644
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 710,155
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           37,555
<PREFERRED>                                     48,293
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           541,504
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              12,400
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 121,208
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   43,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,795
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 565,738
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,081,648
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      508,751
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,893
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     430,555
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     456,448
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         52,303
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               8,814
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,117
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,753
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,364
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,937
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   37,427
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,208
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       39,884
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          45,915
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0