<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000046207
<NAME> HECO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,845,502
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         176,414
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,466
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 131,164
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,165,546
<COMMON>                                        85,387
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      298,154
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            367,770
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 751,311
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           36,160
<PREFERRED>                                     48,293
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           589,226
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 125,920
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   13,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,795
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 598,841
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,165,546
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,071,426
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            56,170
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     906,465
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     962,635
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        108,791
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              20,675
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 129,466
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        44,253
<NET-INCOME>                                    85,213
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,865
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   81,348
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        57,003
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       41,127
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         142,775
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0