<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000046207
<NAME> HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,933,177
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         156,772
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,696
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 144,054
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,246,699
<COMMON>                                        85,387
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      296,364
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            406,719
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 788,470
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           81,585
<PREFERRED>                                     48,293
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           613,137
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  95,434
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   30,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,595
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 588,185
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,246,699
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      755,615
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            42,253
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     626,490
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     668,743
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         86,872
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,220
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 102,092
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        36,573
<NET-INCOME>                                    65,519
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,592
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   62,927
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        43,790
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       45,115
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         132,103
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0