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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.           )

  Filed by the Registrant ý

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

o

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12


Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
         
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
    (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        
 
    (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        
 
    (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        
 
    (5)   Total fee paid:
        
 

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
    (2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        
 
    (3)   Filing Party:
        
 
    (4)   Date Filed:
        
 

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HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.    •    PO BOX 730    •    HONOLULU, HI 96808-0730

HEI LOGO

Constance H. Lau
President and
Chief Executive Officer

March 21, 2011

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

         On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI). The meeting will be held on HEI's premises in Room 805 on the eighth floor of the American Savings Bank Tower, located at 1001 Bishop Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 10, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., local time. A map showing the location of the meeting site appears on page 85 of the Proxy Statement.

         The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement describe the items of business to be conducted during the meeting. In addition, we will review significant events of 2010 and their impact on you as a shareholder of HEI. HEI officers and Board members will be available before and after the meeting to talk with you and answer questions.

         Of particular importance for your attention, this is the first year in which we will be asking our shareholders to submit an advisory vote on the Company's executive compensation. A description of the Company's executive compensation programs, as well as details of the compensation for the Company's named executive officers, is provided in the Proxy Statement.

         As a shareholder of HEI, it is important that your views be represented. Please help us obtain the quorum needed to conduct business at the meeting by promptly voting your shares.

         The Board and management team of HEI would like to express their appreciation to you for your confidence and support. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting in Honolulu.


GRAPHIC

 

Recycled


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Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
900 Richards Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

 

HEI LOGO

 


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Date and Time   Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., local time.

Place

 

American Savings Bank Tower, 1001 Bishop Street, 8th floor, Room 805, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

Items of Business

 

1.    To elect three Class III directors for a three-year term expiring at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
    2.    To approve the 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan.
    3.    To hold an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on HEI's executive compensation.
    4.    To hold an advisory vote on a resolution approving HEI's executive compensation.
    5.    To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as HEI's independent registered public accounting firm for 2011.

Record Date

 

March 2, 2011.

Annual Report

 

The 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders, which is not a part of the proxy solicitation materials, has been mailed or made available electronically along with this Notice and accompanying Proxy Statement.

Proxy Voting

 

Shareholders of record may appoint proxies and vote their shares in one of four ways:

 

•         Via the Internet

 

•         By telephone

 

•         By mail

 

•         In person


 

 

Shareholders whose shares are held by a bank, broker or other financial intermediary (i.e., in "street name") should follow the voting instruction card provided by such intermediary.

 

 

Any proxy may be revoked in the manner described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

Attendance at Meeting

 

Only shareholders of record as of the record date are entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered in street name, you must bring a letter from your bank or broker or provide other evidence of your beneficial ownership if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.

Important Notice
Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders to be
held on May 10, 2011

 

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.hei.com/proxymatl.html.

    By Order of the HEI Board of Directors.

 

 

March 21, 2011

 

Chester A. Richardson
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel, Secretary and Chief
Administrative Officer

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page

About the Meeting

  1
 

Who can attend the meeting?

  1
 

What are shareholders being asked to vote on?

  1

Voting Procedures

  1
 

Electronic Access to Proxy Materials

  1
 

Who is eligible to vote?

  2
 

How many shares are outstanding and entitled to vote?

  2
 

What constitutes a quorum?

  2
 

How do shareholders vote?

  2
 

How do shareholders vote if their shares are held in street name?

  3
 

How do shareholders vote if their shares are held in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, the HEI Retirement Savings Plan or the American Savings Bank 401(k) Plan?

  3
 

Can shareholders change their vote?

  3
 

How many votes are required?

  3
 

Who will count the votes and are the votes confidential?

  4
 

Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

  4
 

What happens if the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned?

  4

Director Nominees for Election and Continuing Directors

  5
 

Nominees for Class III Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2014 Annual Meeting

  5
 

Continuing Class I Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting

  8
 

Continuing Class II Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2013 Annual Meeting

  10
 

Class I Director Who Intends to Resign at the 2011 Annual Meeting

  11
 

Class III Directors Who Are Not Continuing After the Expiration of Their Terms at the 2011 Annual Meeting

  12

Proposal No. 1: Election of Class III Directors

  13

Corporate Governance

  14
 

What are HEI's governance policies and guidelines?

  14
 

What is the Board's leadership structure?

  14
 

What is the Board's role in risk oversight?

  15
 

How does the Board select nominees for the Board?

  17
 

Does the Board consider diversity in identifying nominees for the Board?

  18
 

How can shareholders communicate with the directors?

  19

Board of Directors

  19
 

Who are the independent directors of the Board?

  19
 

How often did the Board meet in 2010?

  21
 

Does the Board meet in executive session without management present?

  21
 

Did all directors attend last year's Annual Meeting?

  21
 

Does the Board evaluate itself?

  21

Committees of the Board

  22
 

What committees has the Board established and how often did they meet?

  22
 

What are the primary functions of each of the four committees?

  23

Director Compensation

  24
 

How is director compensation determined?

  24
 

Director Compensation Table

  27

Proposal No. 2: Approval of 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan

  28
 

What are the purposes and terms of the 2011 Director Plan?

  29
 

New 2011 Director Plan Benefits

  31
 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

  32

Proposal No. 3: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on HEI's Executive Compensation

  33

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Proposal No. 4: Advisory Vote on Resolution Approving HEI's Executive Compensation

  33
 

Compensation Program Design Summary

  34
 

Pay-for-Performance

  35
 

Alignment with Shareholder Interests

  37
 

Effect of Advisory Vote

  37

Compensation Committee Report

  38

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

  38
 

Who were the named executive officers for HEI in 2010?

  38
 

Summary of Results

  38
 

Executive Summary

  39
 

Compensation Process

  41
   

Who is responsible for determining appropriate executive compensation?

  41
   

Can the Compensation Committee modify or terminate executive compensation programs?

  41
   

Who is the compensation consultant and what is the consultant's role?

  41
   

What is the role of executive officers in determining executive officer and director compensation?

  42
   

How do HEI's compensation policies and practices relate to HEI's risk management?

  42
 

Compensation Program

  43
   

What is HEI's philosophy with respect to its executive compensation programs?

  43
   

What are the objectives of HEI's executive compensation programs and what are they designed to reward?

  44
   

What is each element of executive compensation?

  44
   

Why does HEI choose to pay each element?

  44
   

How does HEI determine the amount for each element?

  45
   

How does each element fit into HEI's overall compensation objectives?

  47
 

Compensation Elements

  47
   

What are the base salaries of the named executive officers?

  47
   

What was HEI's 2010 annual incentive plan and were there any payouts under this plan?

  47
   

What was HEI's 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan and were there any payouts under this plan?

  50
   

What is HEI's 2009-2011 long-term incentive plan?

  54
   

What is HEI's 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan?

  54
   

How does HEI award stock to named executive officers?

  56
   

What retirement benefits do named executive officers have?

  57
   

Can named executive officers participate in nonqualified deferred compensation plans?

  58
   

Do named executive officers have executive death benefits?

  58
   

Do named executive officers have change-in-control agreements?

  59
   

What other benefits do named executive officers have?

  59

Executive Compensation

  60
 

Summary Compensation Table

  60
 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

  64
 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

  66
 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

  67
 

Pension Benefits

  67
 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

  70
 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

  71

Stock Ownership Information

  76
 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

  76
 

Does HEI have stock ownership and retention guidelines for directors and officers and does it have a policy regarding hedging the risk of ownership?

  77
 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

  78

Other Relationships and Related Person Transactions

  78
 

Does HEI have a written related person transaction policy?

  78

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  Page
 

Are there any family relationships between any HEI executive officer, director and nominee for director?

  78
 

Are there any arrangements or understandings between any HEI director or director nominee and another person pursuant to which such director or director nominee was selected?

  78
 

Are there any related person transactions with HEI or its subsidiaries?

  79
 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

  80

Audit Committee Report

  80

Proposal No. 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  82

Other Information

  82
 

How are proxies solicited and what is the cost?

  82
 

What is the deadline for submitting a proposal for next year's Annual Meeting?

  82
 

How can business matters be brought before the Annual Meeting?

  82
 

How can shareholders recommend or propose persons as nominees to serve on the Board?

  83
 

What provisions has HEI made for "householding" and will it provide additional copies of proxy materials upon request?

  83

Map

  85

Appendix A — Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan

  A-1

Appendix B — Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Categorical Standards of Director Independence

  B-1

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Proxy Statement

        HEI is soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 10, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., local time, at the American Savings Bank Tower, 1001 Bishop Street, 8th floor, Room 805, Honolulu, Hawaii. The mailing address of the principal executive offices of HEI is P.O. Box 730, Honolulu, Hawaii 96808-0730.

        The approximate mailing date for this Proxy Statement, form of proxy and Annual Report to Shareholders is March 21, 2011. The 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders accompanying this Proxy Statement is not considered proxy soliciting material.





About the Meeting

Who can attend the meeting?

        Attendance will be limited to:

        If you own shares of HEI Common Stock in the name of a bank, brokerage firm or other holder of record, you must show proof of ownership. This may be in the form of a letter from the holder of record or a recent statement from the bank or broker showing ownership of HEI Common Stock.

        Any person claiming to be an authorized representative of a shareholder must produce written evidence of the authorization.


What are shareholders being asked to vote on?





Voting Procedures

Electronic Access to Proxy Materials

        HEI provides shareholders the option to access its proxy materials via the Internet. In keeping with our efforts to conserve natural resources, this method of delivery reduces the amount of paper necessary to produce these materials and reduces the costs associated with the printing and mailing of these materials to shareholders. On March 21, 2011, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

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(Notice) will be mailed to certain shareholders and our proxy materials will be posted on the website referenced in the Notice (www.ViewMaterial.com/HEI). As more fully described in the Notice, shareholders may choose to access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or may request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials. The Notice and website will provide information regarding how to request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis.

        If you currently receive our proxy materials in printed form and would like to receive them electronically in the future, please so indicate on the enclosed proxy, if voting by mail, or by following the instructions provided when using the telephone or Internet voting options described under "How do shareholders vote?" below.


Who is eligible to vote?

        Only persons who own shares of HEI Common Stock as of the close of business on March 2, 2011 (the proxy record date) are entitled to vote.


How many shares are outstanding and entitled to vote?

        On March 2, 2011, 94,915,883 shares of HEI Common Stock were outstanding. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share held. Under the Bylaws of HEI, shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.


What constitutes a quorum?

        A quorum is needed to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the shares of HEI Common Stock outstanding on March 2, 2011 and entitled to vote, and present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, constitutes a quorum. Abstentions and broker votes of uninstructed shares on routine matters (such as ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm) will be counted in the number of shares present in person or by proxy for purposes of determining a quorum. A quorum established for one purpose will apply for all purposes at the Annual Meeting.


How do shareholders vote?

        Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please take the time to vote. You may vote via the Internet, by touchtone telephone or by mail before the Annual Meeting, or in person at the Annual Meeting. The Internet and telephone procedures are designed to authenticate your vote and confirm that your voting instructions are followed. If you vote via the Internet or by telephone, follow the instructions on the Notice or card you received by mail. If you vote by telephone, you will receive additional recorded instructions, and if you vote via the Internet, you will receive additional instructions at the Internet website. You will need to have the control number on your Notice or proxy/voting instruction card, as applicable, available.

        Shareholders who vote via the Internet or by telephone should not mail the proxy/voting instruction card.

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How do shareholders vote if their shares are held in street name?

        If your shares are held in "street name" (that is, through a broker, trustee or other holder of record), you will receive a voting instruction card or other information from your broker or other holder of record seeking instruction as to how your shares should be voted. If you do not provide such instruction, your broker or nominee may vote your shares at its discretion on your behalf on routine matters, but not on nonroutine matters. The ratification of the appointment of HEI's independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter. The election of directors, the approval of the 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, the advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation and the advisory vote on executive compensation are considered nonroutine matters. Please provide instructions to your broker on how to vote your shares on all five proposals to ensure that your shares will be voted on all proposals at the Annual Meeting.

        You may not vote shares held in "street name" at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your broker or holder of record.


How do shareholders vote if their shares are held in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, the HEI Retirement Savings Plan or the American Savings Bank 401(k) Plan?

        If you own shares held in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, the HEI Retirement Savings Plan (including shares previously received under the Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan) or the American Savings Bank 401(k) Plan, the respective plan trustees will vote those shares according to your directions. For all of these plans, the respective trustees will vote all the shares of HEI Common Stock for which they receive no voting instructions in the same proportion as they vote shares for which they receive instruction.


Can shareholders change their vote?

        If you vote by any of the methods described above, you may revoke your proxy or vote at any time before the Annual Meeting in one of three ways:


How many votes are required?

        If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, then:

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Who will count the votes and are the votes confidential?

        Corporate Election Services will act as tabulator for broker and bank proxies as well as for proxies of the other shareholders of record. Your identity and vote will not be disclosed to persons other than those acting as tabulators except:


Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

        HEI knows of no business to be presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting other than the items set forth in this Proxy Statement. If other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the persons named on the enclosed proxy will vote your stock in accordance with their best judgment, unless authority to do so is withheld by you in your proxy.


What happens if the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned?

        If the Annual Meeting is postponed or adjourned, your proxy will remain valid and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted at the Annual Meeting.

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Director Nominees for Election and Continuing Directors

Nominees for Class III Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2014 Annual Meeting

PICTURE   Peggy Y. Fowler, age 59, director nominee for 2011 Annual Meeting

Ms. Fowler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to HEI. Her prior positions in managing utility operations and leading a large public company as its chief executive officer impart significant expertise to the Board. Her recent experience serving on the board of a mainland bank holding company will strengthen the Board's capabilities in overseeing the subsidiary bank operations.


Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006


•       Director and Audit Committee Member, Hawaiian Electric Company,  Inc., since 2009

•       Co-Chief Executive Officer, Portland General Electric Company (PGE), 2009

•       President and Chief Executive Officer, PGE, 2000-2008

•       Director, PGE, since 1998

•       Director, Umpqua Holdings Corporation, since 2009, and Chair of Budget and Compensation Committees, since April 2010

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service
   

•       35 years of executive leadership, financial oversight and utility operations experience from serving at PGE in senior officer positions, including Chief Operating Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer.

•       Breadth of proven management, leadership, analytical and technical skills, including crisis management, risk assessment, strategic planning and public relations skills, demonstrated especially by her leadership of PGE after the 2001 bankruptcy of its parent company, Enron Corp., through its independence from Enron in 2006 and by her recognition as Oregon's Most Admired CEO in a 2005 Portland Business Journal survey and as Portland's First Citizen in 2007 by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors, an annual award honoring civic achievement and business leadership.

•       Expertise in financial oversight, regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters gained from her experience as President (1997-2000), CEO (2000-2008) and Chair (2001-2004) of PGE, her service as a director for PGE and the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, a director and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for The Regence Group (BlueCross BlueShield health insurance provider in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington), and a director and chair of the Budget and Compensation Committees and member of the Loan and Investment Committee for Umpqua Holdings Corporation (publicly traded bank holding company based in Portland, Oregon).

 

Involvement in certain legal proceedings
   

•       PGE was owned by Enron Corp. from 1997 to 2006. Enron also owned Portland General Holdings, Inc., previously a holding company for the nonregulated business of PGE that became a subsidiary of Enron, holding Enron's nonregulated businesses in Portland. Enron Corp. filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Ms. Fowler was President of Portland General Holdings from 1999 to 2003, when it also filed for bankruptcy protection. The case was procedurally consolidated with the Enron bankruptcy, but Enron's bankruptcy reorganization plan did not expressly pertain to Portland General Holdings. The Portland General Holdings bankruptcy case was dismissed in October 2005, after substantially all of its assets were distributed or placed in segregated accounts.

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PICTURE   Keith P. Russell, age 65, director nominee for 2011 Annual Meeting

Mr. Russell has extensive senior management experience in the banking industry. His prior service as chief risk officer of a large financial institution significantly strengthens the Board's capabilities in overseeing risk within the organization. In addition, Mr. Russell's many years of experience in managing and overseeing bank operations will contribute important expertise to the Board. Mr. Russell also has extensive knowledge and experience from his prior service as an officer of a lender to the electric utility industry.


Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006


•       Director and Audit Committee Member, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2010

•       President, Russell Financial,  Inc. (strategic and financial consulting firm servicing business and high net worth families and individuals), since 2001

•       Vice Chair/Chief Risk Officer, Mellon Financial Corp., then Chairman, Mellon West, 1991-2001

•       Senior Executive Vice President, then Director, President and Chief Operating Officer, GLENFED/Glendale Federal Bank, 1983-1991

•       Director, Nationwide Health Properties, since 2002

•       Director, Sunstone Hotel Investors, since 2003

•       Director, Countrywide Financial, 2003-2008

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service
   

•       10 years of executive leadership, financial oversight, risk management and strategic planning experience from serving as Vice Chairman/Chief Risk Officer for Mellon Financial Corporation and Chairman of Mellon's West Coast operations. Mellon was also a major lender and capital provider to the electric utility industry.

•       8 years of executive and corporate governance experience serving as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of GLENFED/Glendale Federal Bank.

•       9 years of banking industry experience serving as Senior Vice President and Deputy Administrator for Security Pacific National Bank, with direct responsibility for a wide breadth of operations including leasing, consumer and commercial finance, mortgage banking, venture capital, cash management and trust business.

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PICTURE   Barry K. Taniguchi, age 63, director since 2004 and nominee for 2011 Annual Meeting
Audit Committee Chair
Executive Committee Member

Mr. Taniguchi brings to the Board considerable experience as a business leader in Hawaii, with extensive knowledge of the business climate and significant contacts and relationships within the business community and local governmental agencies. With the successes of his own businesses, and because of his commitment to a wide array of charitable causes, Mr. Taniguchi is one of the most well-respected businesspersons in the state of Hawaii.

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       President and Chief Executive Officer, KTA Super Stores (grocery store chain), since 1989

•       President, K. Taniguchi Ltd. (real estate lessor), since 1989

•       Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2002

•       Director since 2001 and Audit Committee Chair, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary)

•       Director, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary), 1997-2009

•       Director, Maui Electric Company, Limited (HEI subsidiary), 2006-2009

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Current knowledge of and experience with the business community on the island of Hawaii, which is served by one of HEI's utility subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., from serving in his current chief executive officer positions for the last 22 years.

•       Accounting and auditing knowledge and experience gained from obtaining a public accounting certification and working as an auditor and as a controller.

•       Extensive corporate and nonprofit board and leadership experience, including from his current service on the boards of Hawaii Employers Mutual Insurance Company and Hawaii Community Foundation and from his role as a director and former Chair of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board.

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Continuing Class I Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting

PICTURE   Constance H. Lau, age 59, director 2001-2004 and since 2006
Executive Committee Member

Current and prior positions with the Company

•       President and Chief Executive Officer and Director, HEI, since 2006

•       Chairman of the Board, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary), since 2006

•       Chairman of the Board, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2006

•       Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, American Savings Bank, F.S.B., 2008-2010

•       Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Savings Bank, F.S.B., 2006-2008

•       President and Chief Executive Officer and Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B., 2001-2006

•       Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B., 1999-2001

•       Treasurer, HEI, 1989-1999

•       Financial Vice President and Treasurer, HEI Power Corp. (former HEI subsidiary), 1997-1999

•       Treasurer, Hawaiian Electric Company,  Inc., and Assistant Treasurer, HEI, 1987-1989

•       Assistant Corporate Counsel, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., 1984-1987

 

Other public company directorships since 2006

•       Director since 2004 and Audit Committee Member, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Intimate understanding of the Company from serving in various chief executive, chief operating and other executive, finance and legal positions at HEI and its subsidiaries over the last 26 years.

•       Familiarity with current management and corporate governance practices from her current service as a director and Audit Committee member for Alexander & Baldwin,  Inc. and as a director of AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc.

•       Experience with financial oversight and expansive knowledge of the Hawaii business community and the local communities that compose the Company's customer bases from serving as a director for various local industry, business development, educational and nonprofit organizations.

•       Utility and banking industry knowledge from serving as a director or task force member of the Hawaii Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association and the Edison Electric Institute.

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PICTURE   A. Maurice Myers, age 70, director since 1991
Compensation Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       Chief Executive Officer and Owner, Myers Equipment Leasing LLC (equipment leasing company), since 2010

•       Chief Executive Officer and Director, POS Hawaii LLC (provider of point-of-sale business systems for restaurants and retailers), since 2009

•       Chief Executive Officer and Director, Wine Country Kitchens LLC (manufacturer of gourmet food products), since 2007

•       Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Waste Management, Inc. (waste and environmental services provider), 1999-2004

•       Director, Hawaiian Electric Company,  Inc. (HEI subsidiary), 2004-2006 and since 2009

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       20 years of public company executive and board leadership experience as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Waste Management, Inc., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Yellow Corporation, President of America West Airlines and Chief Executive Officer and President of Aloha Airgroup, Inc.

•       Practiced skills in risk assessment, strategic planning, financial oversight, customer and public relations and marketing exercised in leading successful restructuring efforts at Waste Management, Yellow Corporation and America West Airlines.

•       Diverse business experience and public and private company board experience, including from his prior service as a director and Compensation Committee chair for Tesoro Corporation and as a director for BIS Industries Limited and Cheap Tickets.

 

PICTURE   James K. Scott, Ed.D., age 59, director since 1995
Audit Committee Member
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       President, Punahou School (K-12 independent school), since 1994

•       Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2008

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Recognized leadership and executive management skills as President of Punahou School for 17 years.

•       26 years of experience developing and executing strategic plans as the chief executive at two independent schools, including overseeing fundraising programs and admissions/marketing functions.

•       Governance and board leadership experience from his current positions as Chair of the Secondary School Admission Test Board, director and former Chair of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, member of the Board of Governors of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and member of the Advisory Board of the Klingenstein Center of Teachers College at Columbia University.

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Continuing Class II Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2013 Annual Meeting

PICTURE   Thomas B. Fargo, age 62, director since 2005
Compensation Committee Chair
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006


•       Operating Executive Board Member, J.F. Lehman & Company (private equity firm), since 2008

•       Owner, Fargo Associates,  LLC (defense and homeland/national security consultancy), since 2005

•       Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Superferry, Inc. (interisland ferry), 2008-2009

•       President, Trex Enterprises Corporation (defense research and development firm), 2005-2008

•       Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, 2002-2005

•       Director since 2008 and Audit Committee Member, Northrop Grumman Corporation

•       Director, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., 2005-2008

•       Director since 2005, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary)

 

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service


•       Extensive knowledge of the U.S. military, a major customer of HEI's electric utility subsidiary.

•       Leadership, strategic planning and financial and nonfinancial risk assessment skills developed over 39 years of leading 9 organizations ranging in size from 130 to 300,000 people and managing budgets up to $8 billion.

•       Experience with corporate governance, including audit, compensation and governance committees, from service on several public and private company boards.

 

PICTURE   Kelvin H. Taketa, age 56, director since 1993
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaii Community Foundation (statewide charitable foundation), since 1998

•       Director, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary), since 2004

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service


•       Executive management experience with responsibility for overseeing more than $405 million in charitable assets as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

•       Proficiency in risk assessment, strategic planning and organizational leadership as well as marketing and public relations obtained from his current position at the Hawaii Community Foundation and his prior experience as Vice President and Executive Director of the Asia/Pacific Region for The Nature Conservancy and as Founder, Managing Partner and Director of Sunrise Capital Inc.

•       Knowledge of corporate and nonprofit governance issues gained from his prior service as a director for Grove Farm Company, Inc., his current service as Vice Chair of the Independent Sector and Director of the Stupski Foundation and through publishing articles and lecturing on governance of tax-exempt organizations.

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PICTURE   Jeffrey N. Watanabe, age 68, director since 1987
Chairman of the Board since 2006
Executive Committee Chair

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       Managing Partner, Watanabe Ing & Komeiji LLP, 1972-2007 (now retired)

•       Director since 2003 and Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee Member, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

•       Director since 1988 and Executive Committee Member, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary)

•       Director, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HEI subsidiary), from 1999-2006 and since 2008

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Broad business, legal, corporate governance and leadership experience from serving as Managing Partner of the law firm he founded, advising clients on a variety of business and legal matters for 35 years and from serving on more than a dozen public and private company and nonprofit boards and committees, including his current service on the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

•       Specific experience with strategic planning from providing strategic counsel to local business clients and prospective investors from the continental United States and the Asia Pacific region for 25 years of his law practice.


Class I Director Who Intends to Resign at the 2011 Annual Meeting

PICTURE   Shirley J. Daniel, Ph.D., C.P.A., age 57, director since 2002
Audit Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       Professor of Accountancy, Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii at Manoa, since 1995

•       Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2004

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Current expertise in accounting, auditing and corporate governance from teaching courses on these subjects at the Shidler College of Business.

•       Business and leadership experience from her current service as Director for the Pacific Asian Management Institute and Center for International Business Education and Research and from her prior service as Managing Director for the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship and E-Business.

•       Prior experience in accounting and auditing from being a licensed certified public accountant and from working as an auditor and audit manager with the international accounting firm Arthur Young & Company (currently Ernst & Young LLP).

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Class III Directors Who Are Not Continuing After the Expiration of Their Terms at the 2011
Annual Meeting

PICTURE   Don E. Carroll, age 69, director since 1996
Compensation Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       Retired Chairman, Oceanic Time Warner Cable Advisory Board, since 2004

•       Director since 2004 and Audit Committee Member, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary)

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       38 years of executive and finance management experience as President and Vice President, Finance of Oceanic Cable.

•       Experience with financial institutions and executive compensation and compensation program oversight from serving as Chair of the Compensation Committee for Island Insurance Company, Ltd. and as a member of the Compensation Committee for Pacific Guardian Life.

•       In-depth knowledge and familiarity with issues facing HEI and its banking subsidiary gained from 15 years of service as a director for HEI and 7 years of service as a director for American Savings Bank, F.S.B.

 

PICTURE   Victor H. Li, S.J.D., age 69, director since 1988
Compensation Committee Member

Business experience and other public company and HEI affiliate directorships since 2006

•       Co-Chairman, Asia Pacific Consulting Group (Pacific region trade consultancy), since 1992

•       Director, American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (HEI subsidiary), since 2004

Skills and qualifications for HEI Board service

•       Thoughtful leadership and consensus-building skills and marketing and strategic planning experience acquired through his current position for the last 19 years as Co-Chairman of the Asia Pacific Consulting Group, and his former position for 10 years as chief executive for the East-West Center.

•       Long-term knowledge and understanding of HEI's operations and strategic goals after 21 years on the Board.

•       Prior energy and public company board experience from serving as a director at Grumman Corporation and AES China Generating Co. Ltd.

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Proposal No. 1: Election of Class III Directors

        In accordance with the Bylaws of the Company, the Board has fixed the size of the Board to serve from and after the 2011 Annual Meeting at nine directors, divided into three classes with staggered terms. The Board proposes that the following three nominees be elected at the 2011 Annual Meeting as Class III directors to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting, or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified:

        The Board proposes three Class III nominees for election at the Annual Meeting:

        Mr. Taniguchi is currently an incumbent Class III director of HEI. Ms. Fowler and Mr. Russell are new nominees, but they are not new to the HEI family of companies, as they are directors of HEI's principal subsidiaries. Ms. Fowler is a director of Hawaiian Electric Company and Mr. Russell is a director of American Savings Bank, and each has substantial experience in the electric power and banking industries, respectively. Ms. Fowler and Mr. Russell are nominated to fill the positions held by current Class III directors Don E. Carroll and Victor H. Li, who have served several terms on the HEI Board but are not seeking reelection. Mr. Carroll will continue serving the Company as a member of the board of directors for HEI subsidiary Hawaiian Electric Company. The Board has determined that all three nominees are independent under the applicable standards for director independence, as discussed below under "Board of Directors—Who are the independent directors of the Board?". Each nominee has consented to serve for the new term expiring at the 2014 Annual Meeting if elected. If a nominee is unable to stand for election at the time of the 2011 Annual Meeting, the proxy holders listed in the proxy may vote in their discretion for a suitable substitute.

        At the 2010 Annual Meeting, the Board was fixed at 11. However, Mr. Richard W. Gushman, II resigned from his position as a Class III director effective September 30, 2010. In addition, Dr. Shirley J. Daniel, a Class I director with a term expiring in 2012, intends to resign from the Board effective at the Annual Meeting (but she will continue to serve the Company as a member of the board of directors of HEI subsidiary American Savings Bank). Following the Annual Meeting, there will thus be a total of nine directors on the HEI Board with three directors in each of the three Board classes of directors.

        Information regarding the business experience and certain other directorships for each Class III director nominee and for each continuing Class I and II director is provided on pages 5-12 above together with a description of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the Board's conclusion at the time of this Proxy Statement that each of the nominees and directors should serve on the Board in light of HEI's current business and structure.

        YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS III DIRECTOR LISTED ABOVE.

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Corporate Governance

What are HEI's governance policies and guidelines?

        In 2010, the Board and management continued to review and monitor corporate governance trends and best practices to comply with the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of Thrift Supervision applicable to HEI as a bank holding company. As part of an annual review, the HEI Categorical Standards of Director Independence (see Appendix B), Corporate Governance Guidelines, Corporate Code of Conduct and charters for the Audit, Compensation, Executive and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees were reviewed and revised as deemed appropriate by the Board. These documents are available on HEI's website at www.hei.com.


What is the Board's leadership structure?

        Since 2006, Mr. Watanabe has served as the nonexecutive Chairman of the Board and Ms. Lau has served as HEI's President and Chief Executive Officer. Since that time, Ms. Lau has also been the only employee director on the Board. Prior to 2006, the Company's Chief Executive Officer had also served as Chairman of the Board. During that time, the Board had an independent Lead Director.

        Mr. Watanabe has served on the Board since 1987, but has never been employed by HEI or any HEI subsidiary. The Board has determined that he is independent. Among the many skills and qualifications that Mr. Watanabe brings to the Board, the Board considered: (i) his extensive experience in corporate and nonprofit governance from serving on other public company, private company and nonprofit boards; (ii) his reputation for effective consensus and relationship building and business and community leadership, including leadership of his former law firm; (iii) his willingness to spend time advising and mentoring members of HEI's senior management; and (iv) his dedication to committing the hard work and time necessary to successfully lead the Board.

        As HEI's Chairman, Mr. Watanabe's key responsibilities are to:

        The Board's Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions are held by the same individual, or if the Board determines that the Chairman is not independent, the independent directors should designate an independent director to serve as Lead Director. If a Lead Director is designated, the Lead Director's responsibilities would be to: (i) preside

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at Board and shareholder meetings when the Chairman is not present, (ii) preside at executive sessions of the independent directors, (iii) facilitate communication between the independent directors and the Chairman or the Board as a whole, (iv) call meetings of the nonmanagement or independent directors in executive session, (v) participate in approving meeting agendas, schedules and materials for the Board and (vi) perform other functions described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines or as determined by the Board from time to time.

        The Board believes that its current leadership structure, which provides for an independent nonemployee Chairman, or an independent Lead Director if the Chairman is not independent, is appropriate and effective in light of HEI's current operations, strategic plans and overall corporate governance structure. Several reasons support this conclusion. First, the Board believes that having an independent Chairman or Lead Director has been important in establishing a tone at the top for both the Board and the Company that encourages constructive expression of views that may differ from those of senior management. Second, the Board believes that the presence of an independent Chairman or Lead Director, particularly at this time of growing government and investor scrutiny of public and financial company boards, demonstrates to the Company's regulators and shareholders that the Board is committed to serving the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and not the best interests of management. Third, the Board recognizes that the Company has an uncommon corporate governance structure in that the boards of its two primary operating subsidiaries are also composed mostly of nonemployee directors and that the HEI Chairman plays an important leadership role at these subsidiary boards. For instance, in addition to chairing executive sessions of the nonemployee directors and attending meetings of the audit committees of these subsidiary boards, the Chairman leads each subsidiary board in conducting its annual performance evaluation and assists communications between each of these boards and management of the respective subsidiary company and among members of each subsidiary board.


What is the Board's role in risk oversight?

        HEI is a holding company that operates principally through its electric public utility and bank subsidiaries. At the holding company and subsidiary levels, the Company faces a variety of risks, including operational risks, regulatory and legal compliance risks, credit and interest rate risks, competitive risks and liquidity risks. Developing and implementing strategies to manage these risks is the responsibility of management, and that responsibility is carried out by assignments of responsibility to various officers and other employees of the Company under the direction of HEI's Chief Financial Officer, who also serves as HEI's chief risk officer. The role of the Board is to oversee the management of these risks.

        The Board's specific risk oversight functions are as follows:

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        The Board believes that risk oversight is one of the areas in which having an independent Chairman or Lead Director is especially important in order to ensure that views that may differ from those of management are expressed. Since the HEI Chairman attends the meetings of the Board, the subsidiary boards and their respective committees, the HEI Chairman is also in a unique position to assist with communications regarding risk oversight and risk management among the Board and its committees, between the subsidiary boards and their respective committees and between directors and management.


How does the Board select nominees for the Board?

        The Board believes that there are skill sets and qualities and attributes that should be represented on the Board as a whole but not necessarily by each director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board thus consider the qualifications and attributes of directors and director candidates not only individually but also in the aggregate and in light of the current and future needs of HEI and its subsidiaries.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board assists the Board in identifying and evaluating persons for nomination or renomination for Board service. To identify qualified candidates for HEI Board membership, the committee may consider persons who are serving on its subsidiary boards as well as persons suggested by Board members, management and shareholders or may retain a third-party search firm to help identify potentially qualified candidates. The committee's evaluation process does not vary based on whether or not a candidate is recommended by a shareholder.

        Once a person is identified as a potential director candidate, the committee may review publicly available information to assess whether the candidate should be further considered. If so, a committee member or designated representative for the committee will contact the person. If the person is willing to be considered for nomination, the person is asked to provide additional information regarding his or her background, his or her specific skills, experience and qualifications for Board service, and any direct or indirect relationships with the Company. In addition, one or more interviews may be conducted with committee and Board members and committee members may contact one or more references provided by the candidate or others who would have first-hand knowledge of the candidate's qualifications.

        In evaluating the qualifications and attributes of each potential candidate (including incumbent directors) for nomination or renomination, the committee considers:

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        The Board considers the recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and then makes the final decision whether to approve and extend an invitation to a candidate to join the Board upon appointment or election, subject to any approvals required by law, rule or regulation.

        Ms. Fowler and Mr. Russell, both of whom are new nominees for election as HEI directors but are currently directors of Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank, respectively, were highly recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee based on its observations of the performance of these individuals as directors of these HEI subsidiaries and taking into account their strong experience in the electric power and financial services industries, respectively. Ms. Fowler was recruited to the board of directors of Hawaiian Electric Company in 2009 and Mr. Russell to the American Savings Bank board in 2010, in each instance with the assistance of an international executive search firm.


Does the Board consider diversity in identifying nominees for the Board?

        In assisting the Board to identify qualified director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, cultural background and professional experience of the candidate. The Board believes it functions most effectively with members who collectively possess a range of substantive expertise, skills and experience in areas that are relevant to leading the Company in accordance with the Board's fiduciary responsibilities. The Board also believes that having a board composed of members who can collectively contribute a range of perspectives, including perspectives that may arise from being female or a racial minority, improves the quality of the Board's deliberations and decisions because it enables the Board to view issues from a variety of angles and thus more thoroughly and completely. As the Company's operations and strategic plans and the Board's composition may evolve over time, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is charged with identifying and assessing the appropriate mix of knowledge areas, qualifications and personal attributes contributed by Board members that will bring the most strategic and decision-making advantage to the Company.

        With operations almost exclusively in the state of Hawaii, it is natural and advantageous that our Board be composed largely of members who live and work in the state and have firsthand knowledge of and experience with our customer base and political and regulatory environment. Since a large pool of potential candidates for Board membership come from this state, the Board benefits from the unique racial diversity that exists in Hawaii. If the shareholders vote to elect the three director nominees proposed by the Board for election at the Annual Meeting, the resulting composition of the Board would be as follows: four directors (or 44.4%) who are Caucasian, four directors (or 44.4%) who are Asian American and one director (or 11.1%) who is Caucasian, Asian American and native Hawaiian. Two (or 22.2%) of such nine directors, including current nominees, are female.

        The Board also recognizes that, due to Hawaii's geographic isolation from the continental United States and the comparatively small number of public companies, banks and regulated utilities based in Hawaii, the Board also benefits from having directors who have gained business experience at companies located in other states because those Board members can and have contributed valuable information about experiences they have had working at or serving on the boards of other public

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companies and companies in similar industries, which also contributes to the breadth of perspectives on the Board.


How can shareholders communicate with the directors?

        Interested parties, including shareholders, desiring to communicate with the Board, any director or the independent directors as a group regarding matters pertaining to the business or operations of HEI may address their correspondence in care of the Corporate Secretary, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 730, Honolulu, HI 96808-0730. The HEI Corporate Secretary may review, sort and summarize all such correspondence in order to facilitate communications to the Board. In addition, the HEI Corporate Secretary has the authority and discretion to handle any director communication that is an ordinary course of business matter—including routine questions, complaints, comments and related communications that can appropriately be handled by management. Directors may at any time request copies of all correspondence addressed to them. The charter of the HEI Audit Committee, which is available for review at www.hei.com, sets forth procedures for submitting complaints or concerns regarding financial statement disclosures, accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters on a confidential, anonymous basis.





Board of Directors

Who are the independent directors of the Board?

        Under HEI's Corporate Governance Guidelines, a majority of Board members must qualify as independent under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and any additional requirements as determined by the Board from time to time.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board considered the information below, which was provided by the directors and director nominees and/or by HEI or its subsidiaries, concerning relationships between (i) HEI or its subsidiaries and (ii) the director, director nominee, the director's or director nominee's immediate family members (as defined by NYSE) or entities with

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which any of the directors, director nominees or immediate family members have certain affiliations. Based on its consideration of the relationships described below and the recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board determined at its meeting on February 8, 2011 that all of the nonemployee directors and director nominees of HEI (Messrs. Carroll, Fargo, Li, Myers, Russell, Scott, Taketa, Taniguchi and Watanabe and Mses. Daniel and Fowler) are independent. The remaining director, Ms. Lau, is the only employee director of HEI. In addition, the Board determined that Richard W. Gushman, II, who resigned from the Board effective September 30, 2010, and Diane J. Plotts, who retired from the Board at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, were independent during their service on the Board in 2010.

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How often did the Board meet in 2010?

        In 2010, there were nine regular meetings and no special meetings of the Board. All directors attended at least 75% of the combined total number of meetings of the Board and Board committees on which they served.


Does the Board meet in executive session without management present?

        The nonemployee directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management present. In 2010, these sessions were chaired by Mr. Watanabe, who is the Chairman of the Board and an independent nonemployee director. Mr. Watanabe may request from time to time that other nonemployee directors chair the executive sessions.


Did all directors attend last year's Annual Meeting?

        Ten of HEI's twelve directors attended the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. HEI encourages all directors to attend each year's Annual Meeting of Shareholders.


Does the Board evaluate itself?

        The Board conducts annual evaluations to determine whether it and its committees are functioning effectively. In addition, each director annually evaluates his or her performance as a director and each member of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees annually evaluates the performance of each committee on which he or she serves. The evaluation process is overseen by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with the Chairman. The chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Chairman may meet with individual directors to discuss their performance, as he or she deems appropriate.

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Committees of the Board

What committees has the Board established and how often did they meet?

        The Board has four standing committees: Audit, Compensation, Executive and Nominating and Corporate Governance. Members of these committees are appointed annually by the Board, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The table below shows committee members during 2010 and the number of meetings of each committee held in 2010.


 
 
Name
  Audit
  Compensation
  Executive
  Nominating
and
Corporate
Governance

 

 
 

Don E. Carroll

      X          

 
 

Shirley J. Daniel

  X              

 
 

Thomas B. Fargo (1)

  X   X     (2)     X  

 
 

Richard W. Gushman, II (3)

              X  

 
 

Constance H. Lau (4)

          X      

 
 

Victor H. Li

      X          

 
 

A. Maurice Myers

      X          

 
 

Diane J. Plotts (5)

  X     (2) X   X      

 
 

James K. Scott

  X           X  

 
 

Kelvin H. Taketa

              X     (2)

 
 

Barry K. Taniguchi (6)

  X     (2)     X      

 
 

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

          X     (2)    

 
 

Number of Meetings in 2010

  5   8   0   3  

 
 

(1)
Mr. Fargo became a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on October 1, 2010 and resigned from the Audit Committee on October 15, 2010.

(2)
Committee Chairperson.

(3)
Mr. Gushman resigned from the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, effective September 30, 2010.

(4)
Ms. Lau is an employee director. All other directors have been determined to be independent. See "Board of Directors—Who are the independent directors of the Board?" above.

(5)
Ms. Plotts retired from the Board and the committees on which she served, effective at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

(6)
Mr. Taniguchi replaced Ms. Plotts as a member of the Executive Committee and became chairperson of the Audit Committee upon her retirement from the Board at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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What are the primary functions of each of the four committees?

        The primary functions of HEI's standing committees are described below. Each committee operates and acts under written charters that are approved by the Board and available for review on HEI's website at www.hei.com. Each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees may form subcommittees of its members and delegate authority to its subcommittees.

        The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing (i) HEI's financial reporting processes and internal controls, (ii) the performance of HEI's internal auditor, (iii) risk assessment and risk management policies set by management and (iv) the Corporate Code of Conduct compliance program for HEI and its subsidiaries. In addition, this committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm that audits HEI's consolidated financial statements and maintains procedures for receiving and reviewing confidential reports to the committee of potential accounting and auditing concerns. See "Audit Committee Report" below for additional information about the Audit Committee.

        All Audit Committee members are independent and qualified to serve on this committee pursuant to NYSE and SEC requirements and the Audit Committee meets the other applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. None of the Audit Committee members serve on the audit committees of more than two other public companies.

        The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include (i) overseeing the compensation plans and programs for employees, executives and nonemployee directors of HEI and its subsidiaries, including equity and incentive plans; (ii) reviewing the extent to which risks that may arise from the Company's compensation policies and practices, if any, may have a material adverse effect on the Company and recommending changes to address any such risks; (iii) evaluating the compliance of American Savings Bank's incentive compensation practices under the principles for sound incentive compensation plans and (iv) assessing the independence of any compensation consultant involved in determining or recommending director or executive compensation. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Process" and "Other Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" below for additional information about the Compensation Committee.

        All Compensation Committee members are independent and qualified to serve on this committee pursuant to NYSE requirements and also qualify as "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. At least a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee qualifies as "nonemployee directors" as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. During 2010, a Nonemployee Director Subcommittee made equity grants on behalf of the Compensation Committee; however, the Compensation Committee as a whole has been, and will be, performing this function in 2011. A member of the board of directors of each of Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank attends meetings of the Compensation Committee as a nonvoting representative of such director's subsidiary board.

        The Executive Committee may exercise the power and authority of the Board when it appears to its members that action is necessary and a meeting of the full Board is impractical. It may also consider other matters concerning HEI that may arise from time to time between Board meetings. The

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committee is currently composed of the Chairman of the Board, who chairs the committee, the Audit Committee Chairperson and the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer.

        The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include (i) evaluating the background and qualifications of potential nominees for the Board and for the boards of HEI's subsidiaries, (ii) recommending to the Board the director nominees to be submitted to shareholders for election at the next Annual Meeting, (iii) assessing the independence of directors and nominees, (iv) recommending the slate of executive officers to be appointed by the Board and subsidiary boards, (v) advising the Board with respect to matters of Board and committee composition and procedures, (vi) overseeing the annual evaluation of the Board and (vii) making recommendations to the Board and the boards of HEI's subsidiaries regarding corporate governance and board succession planning matters. See "Corporate Governance" above for additional information regarding the activities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.





Director Compensation

How is director compensation determined?

        The Board believes that a competitive package is necessary to attract and retain individuals with the experience, skills and qualifications needed for the challenging role of serving as a director of a publicly traded company with a unique blend of highly regulated industries. The Board chooses to compensate nonemployee directors using a mix of cash and HEI Common Stock to allow for an appropriate level of compensation for services, including stock awards that will align the interests of directors with those of HEI shareholders. Only nonemployee directors are compensated for their service as directors. Ms. Lau, who is the only employee director of HEI, does not receive separate or additional compensation for serving as a director.

        The Compensation Committee recommends nonemployee director compensation to the Board. In 2010, the committee asked its independent compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co. Inc. (Fred Cook & Co.), to conduct an evaluation of HEI's nonemployee director compensation practices. Fred Cook & Co. assessed the structure of HEI's nonemployee director compensation program and its value compared to competitive market practices of financial services and utility peer companies, similar to the assessments used in its executive compensation review, which is described under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Program—How does HEI determine the amount for each element?" below. The 2010 analysis took into consideration the duties and scope of responsibilities of directors, especially in light of HEI's unique business and regulatory structure. The Compensation Committee reviewed the analysis in determining its recommendations to the Board concerning the appropriate nonemployee director compensation, including cash retainers, stock awards and meeting fees. In its meeting on August 9, 2010, the Board approved the Compensation Committee's recommendations on changes to nonemployee director compensation to be effective on January 1, 2011. Although Ms. Lau is a member of the HEI Board, neither she nor any other executive officer of the Company participated in the determination of nonemployee director compensation. There were no increases to the standard director retainer or meeting fees paid to directors in 2010.

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        Retainer.    The following is the annual cash retainer schedule for nonemployee directors of HEI, including those who also serve as directors of certain HEI subsidiaries, paid in quarterly installments in 2010, as well as the new schedule for 2011. Nonemployee directors of HEI who also serve on Board committees, or as directors on subsidiary company boards and committees, received fees for service on such boards or committees in 2010 as indicated below. However, starting in 2011, no additional fees are paid to HEI directors for service on subsidiary company boards. HEI directors who serve on committees of subsidiary boards will continue to receive fees in 2011 for such committee service, as shown below.

 
  2010   2011  

HEI Nonexecutive Chairman of the Board

  $ 250,000   $ 250,000  

HEI Director

    40,000     65,000  

HEI Audit Committee Chair

    15,000     15,000  

HEI Compensation Committee Chair

    10,000     15,000  

HEI Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair

    5,000     10,000  

HEI Audit Committee Member

    6,000     6,000  

HEI Compensation Committee Member

    4,000     6,000  

HEI Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member

    4,000     4,000  

American Savings Bank Director (who is also an HEI Director)

    25,000      

Hawaiian Electric Company Director (who is also an HEI Director)

    25,000      

American Savings Bank Audit Committee Chair

    12,500     12,500  

Hawaiian Electric Company Audit Committee Chair

    10,000     10,000  

American Savings Bank Audit Committee Member

    5,000     5,000  

Hawaiian Electric Company Audit Committee Member

    4,000     4,000  

        Meeting Fees.    Nonemployee directors of HEI and its subsidiary boards are also entitled to meeting fees for each meeting attended after the minimum number of meetings specified below.

 
  2010   2011  

HEI Audit Committee Member

  $ 1,250 per meeting after 8 meetings   $ 1,500 per meeting after 6 meetings  

American Savings Bank Audit Committee Member

  $ 1,000 per meeting after 8 meetings   $ 1,000 per meeting after 8 meetings  

Hawaiian Electric Company Audit Committee Member

  $ 750 per meeting after 8 meetings   $ 750 per meeting after 8 meetings  

HEI Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member

  $ 500 per meeting after 6 meetings   $ 1,500 per meeting after 6 meetings  

HEI Compensation Committee Member

  $ 500 per meeting after 6 meetings   $ 1,500 per meeting after 6 meetings  

        Stock Awards.    On June 30, 2010, each HEI nonemployee director received 1,800 shares of HEI Common Stock as an annual grant under HEI's 1990 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, as last amended and restated on May 6, 2008 (1990 Director Plan) for the purpose of further aligning directors' and shareholders' interests. Stock grants to nonemployee directors under the 1990 Director Plan are made annually on the last business day in June.

        As part of the Compensation Committee's 2010 reevaluation of nonemployee director compensation, the committee recommended and the Board approved an increase in the annual stock grants and initially fixed the amount of the grants to a specified dollar value rather than a specified number of shares. If shareholders approve the HEI 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan at the

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Annual Meeting (see description below under "Proposal No. 2: Approval of 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan"), HEI nonemployee directors on June 30, 2011 will receive shares of HEI Common Stock equal in value to $75,000, with the number of shares to be issued to each HEI nonemployee director to be determined based on the closing sales price of HEI Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date.

        Retirement Benefit.    Pursuant to the termination of the HEI Nonemployee Director Plan on December 17, 1996, previously retired directors continue to receive benefits in accordance with the terms of the plan. Upon their retirement from service as a director, Mr. Myers and Ms. Plotts (who retired from the Board in May 2010) are eligible to receive benefits from the plan in an annual amount of $15,000, paid quarterly, for a period equal to the number of years of their active service through December 31, 1996 (7 years for Mr. Myers and 10 years for Ms. Plotts). All benefits payable under the plan, whether commenced or not, cease upon the death of the nonemployee director.

        Deferred Compensation.    Nonemployee directors may elect to participate in the HEI Nonemployee Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, which allows any nonemployee director to defer compensation from HEI for service as a director. The plan allows for either lump sum or installment distributions upon the retirement of the director. Upon the death of the director, the balance of the deferred account will be distributed in a lump sum to a designated beneficiary. Directors are also eligible to participate in the new 2011 Deferred Compensation Plan for HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company described under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Elements—Can named executive officers participate in nonqualified deferred compensation plans?" below.

        Preferential Rate Loans.    Under a program for American Savings Bank directors that has been discontinued since June 30, 2006, certain HEI directors were eligible to receive preferential rate mortgage loans because they were American Savings Bank directors at the time. When this program was discontinued, existing loans were grandfathered. Information regarding the grandfathered loans that nonemployee directors Messrs. Gushman and Watanabe and Mses. Daniel and Plotts had in 2010 is included under "Other Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Are there any related person transactions with HEI or its subsidiaries?" below. All preferential rate mortgage loans to nonemployee directors were either paid off or refinanced at market rates by January 2011.

        Health Benefits.    Directors, at their election and at their cost, may participate in the group employee medical, vision and dental plans generally made available to HEI, Hawaiian Electric Company or American Savings Bank employees.

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Director Compensation Table

        The table below shows compensation to the HEI nonemployee directors in 2010.


2010 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

Name
  Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($) (3)
  Stock
Awards
($) (4)
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (5)
  All Other
Compensation
($) (6)
  Total
($)
 

Don E. Carroll

    75,000     41,301             116,301  

Shirley J. Daniel

    71,000     41,301         25,560     137,861  

Thomas B. Fargo

    84,880     41,301             126,181  

Richard W. Gushman, II (1)

    55,500     41,301         44,513     141,314  

Victor H. Li

    69,000     41,301             110,301  

A. Maurice Myers

    70,000     41,301     6,024         117,325  

Diane J. Plotts (2)

    34,965             9,200     44,165  

James K. Scott

    75,000     41,301             116,301  

Kelvin H. Taketa

    70,000     41,301             111,301  

Barry K. Taniguchi

    114,221     41,301             155,522  

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

    341,812     41,301         16,630     399,743  

(1)
Mr. Gushman resigned from the Board effective September 30, 2010.

(2)
Ms. Plotts retired from the Board effective at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

(3)
See detail of cash retainers for board and committee service below.

(4)
Represents the value of unrestricted HEI Common Stock determined by reference to the average of the high and low sales prices of $22.945 per share on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2010 of 1,800 shares of HEI Common Stock as the annual grant under the 1990 Director Plan. Nonemployee directors of HEI do not receive any restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock option awards.

(5)
Pension benefits for Mr. Myers and Ms. Plotts were frozen in 1996, when the HEI Nonemployee Director Plan was terminated. Accordingly, they no longer receive credit for their active service after 1996. For both Mr. Myers and Ms. Plotts, the change in pension value reflects only their respective ages and changes in actuarial factors, such as discount rate and mortality assumptions. Ms. Plotts had a negative change in pension value from December 31, 2009 to the date of her retirement in May 2010.

(6)
Represents the difference between the market interest rate at the time of the original loan and the preferential interest rate on loans by American Savings Bank to Messrs. Gushman and Watanabe and Mses. Daniel and Plotts. Each of these loans was made prior to 2006, when American Savings Bank established a policy to not extend preferential rate loans to directors. Preferential rate loans to directors that existed at the time this policy was established in 2006 were grandfathered. All such preferential rate loans made to nonemployee directors were either paid off or refinanced at market rates by January 2011.

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        The table below shows cash retainers paid to HEI nonemployee directors in 2010 for each board and committee (including subsidiary boards and committees) on which each director served in 2010 and for service as nonexecutive HEI Chairman in 2010.

Name
  HEI
Board
Retainer
($)
  HEI
Comm.
Retainer
($)
  HEI
Chairman
of the
Board
Retainer
($)
  HECO
Board
Retainer
($)
  HECO
Audit
Comm.
Retainer
($)
  ASB
Board
Retainer
($)
  ASB
Audit
Comm.
Retainer
($)
  Total (1)
($)
 

Don E. Carroll

    40,000     5,000                 25,000     5,000     75,000  

Shirley J. Daniel

    40,000     6,000                 25,000         71,000  

Thomas B. Fargo

    40,000     16,728         25,000     3,152             84,880  

Richard W. Gushman (2)

    30,000     3,000                 18,750     3,750     55,500  

Victor H. Li

    40,000     4,000                 25,000         69,000  

A. Maurice Myers

    40,000     5,000         25,000                 70,000  

Diane J. Plotts (3)

    14,493     6,885                 9,058     4,529     34,965  

James K. Scott

    40,000     10,000                 25,000         75,000  

Kelvin H. Taketa

    40,000     5,000         25,000                 70,000  

Barry K. Taniguchi

    40,000     11,753         25,000     4,471     25,000     7,997     114,221  

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

    40,000         250,000     25,000         25,000     1,812     341,812  

(1)
Additional committee meeting fees paid in 2010 were $1,000 to each of Messrs. Carroll, Fargo and Myers for attending two Compensation Committee meetings in excess of six meetings at $500 per meeting.

(2)
Mr. Gushman resigned from the Board effective September 30, 2010.

(3)
Ms. Plotts retired from the Board effective at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.





Proposal No. 2: Approval of 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan

        HEI's Compensation Committee and Board believe that the use of stock grants as a major part of the compensation to the nonemployee directors of HEI and its operating subsidiaries, whose oversight contributions are essential to the growth and success of HEI's business, best strengthens the commitment of these individuals to HEI and its subsidiaries, motivates such persons to faithfully and diligently perform their oversight responsibilities and attracts and retains competent and experienced persons whose efforts will contribute to the growth and success of HEI. To that end, on February 8, 2011, the Board approved the Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan (2011 Director Plan), subject to the approval of HEI's shareholders. The purpose of the 2011 Director Plan is to motivate nonemployee directors of HEI and its operating subsidiaries to continue as directors, to align their interests with those of HEI's shareholders, and to increase their efforts to promote HEI's business. Subject to shareholder approval of the 2011 Director Plan, no new awards will be made under HEI's 1990 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, as last amended and restated on May 6, 2008 (1990 Director Plan). If shareholders do not approve the 2011 Director Plan, it will have no effect and awards may continue to be granted under the 1990 Director Plan. There currently are 46,678 shares of HEI Common Stock reserved for issuance and unissued under the 1990 Director Plan.

        The 2011 Director Plan is being submitted to HEI's shareholders in order to ensure compliance with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing standards concerning shareholder approval of equity compensation plans. The NYSE listing standards provide that shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity compensation plans and material revisions to such plans. The 2011 Director Plan is an equity compensation plan (i.e., a plan that provides for the delivery of HEI Common Stock to our nonemployee directors as compensation for their services) and we are asking for your approval of the 2011 Director Plan in compliance with the NYSE listing standards. The purposes,

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terms and benefits under the 2011 Director Plan are summarized below and the full text of the plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.

        Under the NYSE listing standards, the 2011 Director Plan will be approved if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of such approval, so long as the total votes cast represent more than 50% of all shares entitled to vote. Abstentions will be considered votes cast and will have the same effect as voting against the proposal. Broker nonvotes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the 2011 Director Plan.

        YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE 2011 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN.


What are the purposes and terms of the 2011 Director Plan?

        The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2011 Director Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2011 Director Plan, which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

        Purposes.    The 2011 Director Plan, if approved by shareholders, will replace the 1990 Director Plan. The purposes of the 2011 Director Plan are to:

        Administration of the 2011 Director Plan.    The 2011 Director Plan will be administered in the discretion of a committee which may be the Compensation Committee, a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee or such other committee as may be appointed as administrator from time to time by the Board. The initial administrator of the 2011 Director Plan will be the Compensation Committee.

        Eligibility to Participate.    The 2011 Director Plan provides benefits to individuals who, on the grant date, are nonemployee directors of HEI and nonemployee directors of HEI operating subsidiaries approved as participating companies by the Board (initially Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank). If the 2011 Director Plan is approved at the Annual Meeting, we expect that eight HEI nonemployee directors, two American Savings Bank nonemployee directors (who are not also HEI directors) and four Hawaiian Electric Company nonemployee directors (who are not also HEI directors) will be eligible to participate in the Plan in 2011.

        Shares Reserved for Issuance under the Plan.    The number of shares of HEI Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2011 Director Plan is 300,000, subject to adjustment for certain changes in capitalization. The shares to be issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares of HEI Common Stock or shares that may be reacquired by HEI in the open markets in private transactions or otherwise. The closing price per share of HEI Common Stock on March 2, 2011 was $24.63.

        Benefits Under the Plan.    The 2011 Director Plan provides for the grant of shares of HEI Common Stock (Stock Payments) to eligible nonemployee directors annually on the Grant Date, which will be each June 30 (or on the next preceding business day if June 30 is not a business day) or, in the case of

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a person who is elected or appointed to serve as a new director after June 30, on the date that such person first becomes a director. The amount of HEI Common Stock to be issued to nonemployee directors under the Plan may be expressed either as a specified number of shares or as a specified dollar value. If the Stock Payment is expressed as a dollar value, then the number of shares to be issued on the Grant Date is determined by dividing the specified dollar value by the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of a share of HEI Common Stock on the Grant Date, with any resulting fractional share to be paid in cash.

        Under the 2011 Director Plan, individuals who are serving as nonemployee directors of HEI, Hawaiian Electric Company or American Savings Bank on June 30, 2011 (the 2011 Grant Date) will be entitled to the following Stock Payments:

        The amount of the Stock Payment to which participating nonemployee directors may be entitled, and whether the Stock Payment is expressed as a dollar value or in number of shares, may be changed in the discretion of the committee, subject to Board approval and without shareholder approval, but may not be changed more than once between annual meetings of shareholders.

        Shareholder Rights.    No participant in the 2011 Director Plan shall have any rights as an HEI shareholder with respect to any shares of HEI Common Stock except if and when such shares are issued. Recipients of Stock Payments shall have all the rights of a shareholder from and after the Grant Date with respect to the issued shares of HEI Common Stock granted. Once issued as a Stock Payment, the shares of HEI Common Stock thus granted are not subject to forfeiture.

        Transferability of Rights.    No participant in the 2011 Director Plan may assign the right to receive any Stock Payment or any other right or interest under the Plan, contingent or otherwise, or cause or permit any encumbrance, pledge or charge of any nature to be imposed on any such right to receive a Stock Payment. Each participant is responsible for complying with all applicable federal and state securities and other applicable laws relating to participation in the Plan or the shares received as a Stock Payment.

        Amendment or Termination of the Plan.    The Board in its discretion may amend, suspend or terminate the 2011 Director Plan at any time. However, no such amendment will, without approval of the shareholders of HEI, change the class of persons eligible to receive Stock Payments under the Plan (except for changing the subsidiaries whose nonemployee directors are eligible to participate in the Plan) or otherwise modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, or increase the total number of shares of HEI Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan (except for adjustment in the event of certain changes in capitalization). Moreover, no amendment, suspension or termination of the 2011 Director Plan will impair or adversely affect any right or obligation under any Stock Payment previously granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, without further action by the shareholders of HEI, amend the 2011 Director Plan or modify the grants of stock under the Plan as described above under "Benefits Under the Plan" or in response to changes in securities or other laws, or rules, regulations or regulatory interpretations thereof, applicable to the Plan, or to comply with stock exchange rules or requirements.

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        Term of the Plan.    The 2011 Director Plan will become effective if it is approved by shareholders at the Annual Meeting and, unless terminated earlier by the Board, will terminate on April 30, 2021.


New 2011 Director Plan Benefits

        The number of shares to be received by nonemployee directors under the 2011 Director Plan cannot be determined since the ultimate value of grants under the Plan depends on several factors, including the market value of HEI Common Stock, whether awards are denominated in dollar value or number of shares, the number of directors and the boards on which they serve and the level of future grants under the Plan. The following table shows the number of shares of HEI Common Stock which current nonemployee directors would have been entitled to receive if the 2011 Director Plan had been in effect in 2010, based on the Fair Market Value of HEI Common Stock on June 30, 2010. The table also shows the estimated number of shares that current nonemployee directors and director nominees who are expected to be serving as such on June 30, 2011 will receive assuming that the Fair Market Value of HEI Common Stock on that date is the Fair Market Value of HEI Common Stock on the record date (March 2, 2011).


NEW PLAN BENEFITS

Nonemployee Director
  Number of Shares of HEI Common
Stock if 2011 Director Plan had been
in effect on 6/30/10 (2)
  Number of Shares of HEI Common
Stock Estimated to be granted on
6/30/11 (3)
 

Don E. Carroll (1)

    3,342     1,624  

Shirley J. Daniel (1)

    3,342     1,624  

Thomas B. Fargo

    3,342     3,045  

Victor H. Li

    3,342     3,045  

A. Maurice Myers

    3,342     3,045  

James K. Scott

    3,342     3,045  

Kelvin H. Taketa

    3,342     3,045  

Barry K. Taniguchi

    3,342     3,045  

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

    3,342     3,045  

Nonemployee Director Nominee

             

Peggy Y. Fowler

        3,045  

Keith P. Russell

        3,045  

(1)
Mr. Carroll and Ms. Daniel will not be directors of HEI on June 30, 2011, but are expected to be nonemployee directors of Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank, respectively, and hence eligible to receive Stock Payments in those capacities.

(2)
Based on the closing price on June 30, 2010 of HEI Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange of $22.44 per share. Each director would also have received a cash payment of $4.49 in lieu of a fractional share had the 2011 Director Plan been in place in 2010.

(3)
Based on the closing price on March 2, 2011 (the record date) of HEI Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange of $24.63 per share. HEI directors and directors of subsidiary boards who are not also directors of HEI would also receive a cash payment of $1.65 and $0.88, respectively, in lieu of a fractional share based on this assumed stock price.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

        Information as of December 31, 2010 about HEI Common Stock that may be issued under all of the Company's equity compensation plans was as follows:

Plan category
  (a)
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights (1)
  (b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights (2)
  (c)
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (3)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders

    1,131,174   $ 20.76     3,953,169  

Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders

             
               

Total

    1,131,174   $ 20.76     3,953,169  
               

(1)
This column includes the number of shares of HEI Common Stock which may be issued under the HEI 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (EIP) and the 1987 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (SOIP) on account of awards outstanding as of December 31, 2010, including: (a) 77,500 shares that may be issued with respect to restricted stock units granted in 2010 under the EIP assuming that all service conditions are met; (b) 215,500 shares that may be issued under the SOIP upon exercise of outstanding nonqualified stock options and 26,240 of dividend equivalent shares accrued as of December 31, 2010 for such options; (c) 573,244 shares that may be issued under the SOIP with respect to awards made under the 2009-2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and the 2010-2012 LTIP, assuming that the performance goals for these awards are met at the maximum levels; (d) 69,000 shares issuable with respect to restricted stock units which were granted in 2009 assuming that all service conditions are met and (e) 169,690 shares that could have been issued under performance awards granted in 2008 under the 2008-2010 LTIP and the 2008-2010 supplemental LTIP assuming achievement of all goals at the maximum level and calculated using the closing price of HEI Common Stock on December 31, 2010. The number of shares that may be issued under the LTIP awards is included at the maximum level to show the maximum dilution that may result from these awards; however, shares will only be issued under these awards based upon achievement of the performance goals, and it is expected that a lesser number of shares will ultimately be awarded because it is unlikely that all performance goals will be achieved at maximum levels. For example, the actual number of shares issued under the 2008-2010 LTIP and supplemental LTIP awards was 119,045 shares. The number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of 450,000 stock appreciation rights (SARs) is not included in this column because the number of shares issued upon the exercise of the SARs is based upon the appreciation in stock price from the date of grant to the date of exercise, converted into shares. As of December 31, 2010, the closing price of HEI Common Stock was $22.79, which was less than the weighted-average exercise price of the shares of $26.13, and accordingly such rights had no intrinsic value and no shares may be issued upon their exercise.

(2)
The weighted average exercise price in this column relates only to the 215,000 shares of HEI Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options. Excluded from the weighted average exercise price calculation are shares that may be issued without the payment of additional consideration (including the LTIP and restricted stock unit awards) and the SARS (which had no intrinsic value at December 31, 2010).

(3)
This represents the number of shares available as of December 31, 2010 for future awards, including 3,904,491 shares available for future awards under the EIP and 46,678 shares available for future awards under the 1990 Director Plan. As of May 11, 2010, no new awards may be granted under the SOIP. The shares remaining available for issuance under the 1990 Director Plan may be issued in the form of unrestricted HEI Common Stock, but such shares will no longer be available for issuance if the 2011 Director Plan is approved by shareholders at the Annual Meeting.

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Proposal No. 3: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on HEI'S Executive Compensation

        HEI's shareholders are being asked to cast an advisory vote on a resolution approving HEI's executive compensation. The advisory vote on executive compensation, described in Proposal No. 4 below, is referred to as a "say-on-pay" vote. This Proposal No. 3 affords shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on how often HEI should include a say-on-pay vote in its proxy materials for future annual shareholder meetings. Under this Proposal No. 3, shareholders may vote to have the say-on-pay vote every year, every two years or every three years, or they may abstain from voting on this proposal.

        HEI believes that, at least over the next several years, say-on-pay advisory votes should be conducted every year so that shareholders may annually express their views on the Company's executive compensation. Accordingly, unless shareholders express a strong preference that say-on-pay advisory votes be conducted less frequently, the Board anticipates that it will conduct a say-on-pay vote again next year. The Compensation Committee, which administers the Company's executive compensation programs, and the Board will value the opinions expressed by shareholders in these votes and will consider the outcome of these votes in making decisions on executive compensation.

        YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR A FREQUENCY OF EVERY 1 YEAR FOR THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (AS OPPOSED TO EVERY 2 YEARS OR EVERY 3 YEARS OR ABSTAINING).





Proposal No. 4: Advisory Vote on Resolution Approving HEI'S Executive Compensation

        In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, HEI is submitting for shareholder advisory vote a proposal on executive compensation, commonly known as a "say-on-pay" proposal. The Board is aware of the significant interest in executive compensation matters on the part of investors and the general public, and recognizes that shareholders should have the ability to voice their views on the Company's compensation policies and practices for executives.

        The "say-on-pay" proposal gives HEI's shareholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the Company's executive compensation program through their vote on the following resolution:

        HEI's primary goals for its executive compensation program are to incent a high level of business performance that creates value for its shareholders and to attract, motivate and retain talented executives who will provide leadership for the Company's success. The Compensation Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors, seeks to accomplish these goals in a manner that aligns the interests of its executives with the long-term interests of its shareholders and rewards achievement of the Company's financial, operational and strategic goals.

        The Compensation Committee and Board believe that these are the appropriate goals for HEI's executive compensation program and that HEI's compensation is properly designed to achieve these goals. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee and Board recommend that you vote in favor of the shareholder resolution approving HEI's executive compensation.

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Compensation Program Design Summary

        In making its compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee considered the following primary components of HEI's 2010 executive compensation program, which are described in greater detail below under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and "Executive Compensation," and how these components support HEI's compensation goals. Given the complicated nature of the Company's heavily-regulated subsidiaries, the Compensation Committee believes it is imperative to provide, and believes it has provided, an appropriate mix of compensation components at competitive levels relative to the Company's peers in order to attract and retain the highly qualified executives necessary to manage the Company's operations and motivate executives to achieve a high level of performance that generates shareholder value.

Compensation Element/Eligibility
  Description
  Linkage to Compensation Objectives

 
CURRENT YEAR PERFORMANCE    

 
Base Salary

All HEI and subsidiary executives, including named executive officers
  Salary is a market-competitive, fixed level of compensation.   Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that builds shareholder value.

 
Annual Incentive

All HEI and subsidiary executives, including named executive officers

  Cash award based on achievement
of Company goals during the
year.

Combined with salary, target level of annual incentive provides a market-competitive total cash opportunity.

Actual annual incentive payout depends on Company performance.

Poor performance yields no incentive payment.
  Motivate high business performance in furtherance of creating value for shareholders.

Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that builds shareholder value.

Vary compensation based on individual and business unit performance.

 
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    

 
Long-term Performance-based Awards

Approximately 25 HEI and subsidiary executives based on job responsibilities, including named executive officers
  Long-term incentive award opportunities based on performance and retention objectives for each executive. 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan awards are payable 100% in shares of HEI Common Stock.

Award value at different performance levels (minimum, target and maximum) is converted to the number of shares by dividing the planned value by the closing sale price on date of establishing the award opportunity.

Level of award is determined at the end of the three-year performance period based on achieving set goals.

Payment in HEI shares upon completion of three-year performance period links the compensation value to the long-term performance of HEI.

Poor performance yields no incentive payment.
  Align executive and shareholder interests and create long-term value.

Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that builds shareholder value.

Motivate high business performance in furtherance of creating value for shareholders.

Encourage sustained, long-term growth by linking portion of compensation to Company performance over three years.


 

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Compensation Element/Eligibility
  Description
  Linkage to Compensation Objectives

 
Annual Stock-Based Grant

Approximately 15 HEI and subsidiary executives, including named executive officers
  Annual equity grants made in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs).

The amount of an annual equity grant is a percentage of long-term compensation at market-competitive levels.

Awards vest over 4 years.
  Align executive and shareholder interests and create long-term value.

Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that builds shareholder value.

Motivate high business performance in furtherance of creating value for shareholders.

 
RETIREMENT, PENSION & SAVINGS    

 
HEI Retirement Plans

All HEI and subsidiary executives, including named executive officers, except for American Savings Bank executives
  Executives participate in the defined benefit pension plans and savings plans under the same terms and conditions as all HEI employees.

  Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that creates shareholder value.

Enhance long-term employee well-being.

 
American Savings Bank 401(k) Plan

Select American Savings Bank executives, including its president and CEO (who is a named executive officer)
  Separate 401(k) plan established to encourage full-career retention of key American Savings Bank executives.   Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that creates shareholder value.

Enhance long-term employee well-being.

 
HEI Excess Pay Plan

HEI and subsidiary executives (other than American Savings Bank) with compensation expected to exceed applicable IRS limits, including named executive officers
  Established in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service guidelines to provide employees with the ability to earn retirement benefits correlated to salary compensation in excess of limits applicable to defined benefit pension plans.   Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that creates shareholder value.

Enhance long-term employee well-being.

 
HEI Deferred Compensation Plan

All HEI and subsidiary executives, including named executive officers, except for American Savings Bank executives
  Nonqualified plan for executives and directors of HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company to defer portions of cash compensation, with certain limitations.   Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that creates shareholder value.

Enhance long-term employee well-being.

 
OTHER BENEFITS    

 
Change-in-Control Agreements

Named executive officers and select HEI and subsidiary executives (7 participants total)
  Double-trigger agreements, with 1 times to 3 times payment multiples. (Double-trigger = change in control followed by qualifying loss of employment.)   Attract and retain qualified leaders capable of a high level of performance that creates shareholder value.

Encourage focused attention of executives on performance in furtherance of the best interests of shareholders.

 
HEI Executive Death Benefit Plan

Named executive officers employed prior to September 9, 2009
  Form of insurance that provides death benefits to executive's beneficiaries in event of executive's death; plan frozen to those participants who were employees as of September 9, 2009.   Enhance long-term employee well-being.

 


Pay-for-Performance

        The Compensation Committee's allocation of the executive compensation components demonstrates its commitment to pay the Company's executives based on the Company's business performance.

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        The following chart demonstrates the relative mix of compensation elements that made up total direct compensation for the named executive officers in 2010:

GRAPHIC


*
Percentages for annual and long-term incentives are based on target levels; actual award amounts will be determined at the end of the applicable performance period. Information is not provided in the above table for Mr. Wacker because he did not commence his employment with American Savings Bank until November 15, 2010.

        The financial and strategic objectives HEI executives must achieve to receive awards under HEI's annual and long-term incentive plans are set at challenging levels to motivate a high degree of performance, with an emphasis on longer-term financial success and prudent risk management. Certain performance metrics under the annual incentive plan (net income and return on average common equity) and the long-term incentive plan (net income, total return to shareholders and performance relative to the Edison Electric Institute Index) focus executives on building the value of the HEI enterprise and sustaining that value over time. By tying incentives to sustained value creation, HEI's incentive plans align each executive's interests with the interest of shareholders in long-term growth in the value of their ownership stake in HEI.

        As a result of the Compensation Committee's approach to executive compensation, the annual total direct compensation received by HEI's Chief Executive Officer over the past five years shows a consistent correlation to the performance of the Company. The graph below compares the Chief Executive Officer's annual total direct compensation to HEI's consolidated net income. The dotted line shows adjusted (or non-GAAP) net income, which adjusts GAAP net income to exclude the effects of certain actions taken by American Savings Bank in furtherance of its balance sheet restructure and its multi-year performance improvement initiative (as detailed in the notes to the table).

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Correlation of CEO Annual Total Direct Compensation and HEI Consolidated Net Income

GRAPHIC


(1)
Adjustments were made to arrive at the non-GAAP measurement of HEI Consolidated Net Income for long-term incentive plan award purposes for 2008 (excluded from expenses a $35.6 million charge related to American Savings Bank's balance sheet restructuring) and 2009 (excluded from expenses $9.3 million in other than temporary impairment charges, $1.1 million in severance payments, $2.2 million in lease buyout charges and $19.3 million for losses in the sale of American Saving Bank's private-issue mortgage-related securities portfolio).

(2)
HEI's CEO voluntarily waived a $753,999 bonus that she earned for 2009. As a result, her 2009 total direct compensation was lower, and the difference between her 2009 total direct compensation and 2010 total direct compensation was correspondingly greater, than it otherwise would have been. For further detail on 2010 compensation elements, see "Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table".


Alignment with Shareholder Interests

        A significant portion of the named executive officers' 2010 total direct compensation took the form of equity awards (restricted stock units and awards under the long-term incentive plan) and HEI's share ownership guidelines require the named executive officers to hold a significant amount of HEI Common Stock to further align their interests with those of shareholders over the long term. In 2010 the Compensation Committee increased the portion of total direct compensation for the named executive officers that will be in the form of equity in the future by designing the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan awards to be 100% in the form of equity, rather than a portion in cash and a portion in equity as in previous long-term incentive plans.


Effect of Advisory Vote

        While the advisory vote on executive compensation is nonbinding, the Board understands that it is useful and appropriate to seek the views of shareholders when considering the design and initiation of executive compensation programs. Accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and seek to determine the cause or causes of any significant negative vote. Voting results provide little detail by themselves, and the Company may consult directly with shareholders to better understand issues and concerns not previously presented. HEI expects to continue to engage regularly with shareholders concerned with executive compensation or any other matter. Shareholders who want to communicate with HEI's Board or management should visit the Company's website at www.hei.com and view "Contact Information."

        YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTION APPROVING HEI'S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

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Compensation Committee Report

        The Compensation Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors of the Board, assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to compensation matters, and is responsible under its charter for determining the compensation of HEI's executive officers. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that follows. Based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and that it be incorporated by reference into HEI's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SUBMITTED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
HEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Thomas B. Fargo, Chairperson
Don E. Carroll
Victor H. Li
A. Maurice Myers





Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Who were the named executive officers for HEI in 2010?

        For 2010, the named executive officers of HEI were:


Summary of Results

        Beginning in 2008, HEI initiated strategies to set both of the operating companies on a new course. Hawaiian Electric Company entered into an agreement with the state of Hawaii to help create a clean energy future for Hawaii, and American Savings Bank set new performance standards while continuing its commitment to help Hawaii's communities grow and prosper. The year 2010 saw major progress on these initiatives and HEI's unique business model continues to provide the Company with a strong balance sheet and the financial resources to invest in the strategic growth of HEI and its operating subsidiaries while providing an attractive dividend to HEI's shareholders.

        In 2010, HEI and its subsidiaries continued to pursue initiatives to improve fundamental operating and financial performance in order to improve profitability and capital efficiency, grow earnings, reduce risk and be positioned to benefit as economic conditions improve.

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        HEI's financial results are beginning to reflect the Company's strategic progress. In 2010, HEI's consolidated net income was $113.5 million, or $1.21 diluted earnings per share, compared to $0.91 per share in 2009 and $1.07 per share in 2008. With the achievement of major strategic milestones in 2010, HEI was able to improve earnings, maintain its dividend and achieve a 15% total return to shareholders for the year, significantly outperforming the Edison Electric Institute Index. Because of the hard work invested over the last few years, both Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank have strong business models and strategies that align, more than ever, with shareholder and stakeholder interests. We continue to move forward on key strategic initiatives, building upon our achievements, to continue to improve performance and shareholder value creation in the future.


Executive Summary

        The Compensation Committee recommends total compensation programs for executives of HEI and its subsidiaries, subject to the approval of the Board. In 2010, the Compensation Committee held eight meetings to consider and approve the overall executive compensation program design. The committee held lengthy discussions, with and without management present, regarding best pay practices and trends. The Compensation Committee's focus has been to refine HEI's executive compensation programs by incorporating best practices and aligning executive compensation more directly with shareholder interests.

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        In establishing HEI's executive compensation program for 2010, the Compensation Committee was guided by three principles:

        The following are the major changes to the executive compensation program in 2010:

        HEI has eliminated nearly all tax gross-ups for named executive officers. There are no gross-ups in the change-in-control agreements given to the named executive officers and aggregate payments under the agreements are limited to the maximum amount deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. There are no tax gross-ups allowed on club membership initiation or membership fees. Tax gross-ups of death benefits have been restricted to the executives who have contractual entitlements to such gross-ups pursuant to their participation in the applicable plan prior to September 9, 2009 (the date the death benefit plan was frozen).

        The primary refinement has been to make HEI's executive compensation more performance based. The compensation program applicable to the named executive officers consists of short-term and long-term components. The short-term components comprise base salary and an annual incentive bonus plan, the latter being performance based. Long-term incentive compensation is made up of a long-term incentive plan (which is performance based) and a restricted stock unit grant (which is time vested over four years). The Compensation Committee and the Board believe that the current executive compensation program reflects "best practices" and is structured to encourage participants to build long-term value in the Company for the benefit of its shareholders.

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Compensation Process

        The Compensation Committee recommends total compensation programs for HEI and its subsidiaries, subject to the approval of the Board. The committee has authority to retain (or terminate) the services of consultants and advisors to provide advice to the committee. The committee approves, modifies and/or rejects its consultants', advisors' or management's recommendations regarding executive compensation programs, including incentive compensation and equity-based plans. The Board approves the actions of the committee and, where the executive is employed by a subsidiary of HEI, the actions of the committee are also approved by the subsidiary board.

        The Board conducts an evaluation of the performance of the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer in light of corporate goals and objectives relevant to her compensation. The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, recommends to the Board an executive compensation package for the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer based on the Board's evaluation. The independent directors of the Board approve the compensation of the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer.

        The Compensation Committee reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate any incentive program or other executive compensation program, or any individual executive's participation in such programs. The committee can exercise its discretion to reduce or increase (except to the extent an award or payout is intended to satisfy the requirements for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) the size of any award or payout. In 2010, no portion of any bonus or long-term incentive compensation paid by HEI or any of its subsidiaries to executives was nondeductible under Section 162(m).

        In making its compensation determinations, the Compensation Committee will consider financial accounting and tax consequences, if appropriate. For instance, the committee may determine that there should not be any incentive payout that would otherwise result solely from a new way of accounting for a financial measure. As another example, the committee will take into account tax deductibility in establishing executive compensation, but it reserves the right to award compensation even when not deductible if it is reasonable and appropriate.

        The Compensation Committee has retained Frederic W. Cook & Co. Inc. (Fred Cook & Co.) as its independent compensation consultant since December 2009. The consultant was engaged directly by the committee to provide advice and data with respect to executive compensation analyses, benchmarking and market practices, including to (i) conduct a review of HEI's executive compensation policies and practices; (ii) evaluate and determine the appropriate selection of competitive peer groups (for benchmarking purposes); (iii) examine the compensation components and pay ranges for the named executive officers; and (iv) recommend the appropriate mix of compensation elements and levels for the named executive officers.

        In February 2010, Fred Cook & Co. concluded its executive compensation review on behalf of the Compensation Committee, which included the selection of peer companies for HEI and its subsidiaries and a comparison of HEI, Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank executive compensation against executive compensation for such companies. After extensive deliberations in committee meetings held over the course of three months, and after receipt of the report from Fred Cook & Co., the Compensation Committee reached its determinations with respect to the 2010 compensation for the named executive officers. The results of Fred Cook & Co.'s review and the determinations made by the Compensation Committee are discussed below.

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        In 2010 and with the permission of the Compensation Committee, HEI executive officers discussed with Fred Cook & Co. the compensation philosophy of the Company and its methodology and metrics for computing executive incentives. Human resources and finance personnel provided data in response to the requests of the Compensation Committee and Fred Cook & Co.

        Although the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer is a director on the HEI Board, she did not participate in any Board decisions impacting her own compensation. However, in her role as HEI President and Chief Executive Officer, she did review the performance of the other named executive officers and made recommendations with respect to their compensation to the Compensation Committee. In addition, she participates in the deliberations of the Board in acting on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of these other named executive officers.

        Executive officers do not have a role in determining director compensation other than providing administrative support and responses to data requests from the Compensation Committee and its independent consultant.

        HEI has an Enterprise Risk Management function that is principally responsible for identifying and monitoring risk across the holding company and its two operating companies, and for reporting high risk areas to the boards of directors and designated board committees. As a result, all of the HEI directors, including those who serve on the Compensation Committee, are apprised of the risks which could have a material adverse effect on HEI. The Compensation Committee assessed and considered these risks when establishing HEI's compensation policies and practices and the executive compensation program described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The Board and the Compensation Committee have concluded that the executive compensation program does not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking.

        HEI's compensation policies and practices are designed to encourage executive management to maximize value for shareholders, while considering its key stakeholders (including customers, employees and regulators), and to discourage decisions that introduce risks that may have a material adverse effect on HEI. The executive compensation program is structured to pay for performance and align the executive officers' interests with shareholder interests, as well as encourage executives to focus on profitability, efficient use of capital, earnings growth and stock price appreciation in both the short and long terms. Because the executive officers are in a position to directly influence HEI's performance, compensation for executive officers involves a significant portion of pay that is "at risk" and tied directly to HEI performance—namely, the annual incentive bonus plan and long-term equity-based incentives.

        In structuring the incentive compensation plans and setting the particular goals, targets and metrics for awards under those plans, the Compensation Committee incorporates the following elements and practices to ensure consistent leadership and appropriate and prudent decision-making among the named executive officers in a manner that requires cooperation and execution without taking unnecessary or excessive risks:

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Compensation Program

        HEI's compensation philosophy is reflected in the following key design priorities that govern its executive compensation decisions:

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        The compensation programs are designed to support HEI's business goals and promote both short- and long-term profitable growth of the Company. HEI's equity plans are used in its executive compensation programs to align executive compensation with the long-term interests of HEI's shareholders. Total compensation for each executive varies with the performance of HEI and its subsidiaries in achieving financial and nonfinancial objectives.

        The following are the primary objectives of HEI's compensation programs:

        HEI's executive compensation elements comprise—

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        HEI uses competitive market peer company comparisons to determine the amount of each element of executive compensation. Peer companies are companies which, in the aggregate, are similar in business focus, financial scope and valuation, provide similar products and services and are sources for talented employees. Peer companies are selected by the Compensation Committee's independent compensation consultant and are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee. The resulting peer companies are used as a reference in determining appropriate pay levels and mix of pay components by benchmarking toward a competitive median and allowing differences to recognize high performers.

        Peer companies for HEI and its subsidiaries should reflect HEI's diverse businesses. HEI is a Hawaii-based holding company with a unique blend of two regulated operating subsidiaries, a bank and electric utilities. HEI supplies power to 95% of Hawaii's population through its electric utilities, Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company, and provides a wide range of financial services to individuals and businesses through American Savings Bank, one of the state's largest financial institutions based on asset size. Among the objectives of the HEI compensation program are (i) to provide differentiated reward strategies among HEI and its operating bank and utility subsidiaries in order to align with specific business needs and talent markets and (ii) to reward performance relative to strategic plans that support shareholder value.

        In February 2010, Fred Cook & Co. conducted a peer group selection and compensation comparison in which the same utility peer group would apply to HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company and a banking peer group would apply to American Savings Bank for purposes of setting 2010 compensation.

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        The following are the HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company peer group companies* in 2010:

Allegheny Energy   Pinnacle West Capital
Alliant Energy   PNM Resources
Great Plains Energy   Portland General Electric
Mirant   Questar
Northeast Utilities   TECO Energy
NSTAR   Vectren
NV Energy   Wisconsin Energy
OGE Energy    

        The following are the American Savings Bank peer group companies* in 2010:

1st Source   Great Southern Bancorp
BancFirst   Hancock
Bank of Hawaii   IBERIABANK
Bank of the Ozarks   Independent Bank
City Holding Company   NBT Bancorp
Community Bank System   Oriental Financial Group
CVB Financial   Park National
Dime Community Bancshares   Prosperity Bancshares
First Financial Bankshares   Republic Bancorp
FirstMerit   United Bankshares
Flushing Financial   Westamerica Bancorporation
Glacier Bancorp    

*
Some company names have changed and some companies no longer exist due to restructurings that occurred after the Fred Cook & Co. analyses and peer group selections were completed.

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        With the assistance of its compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee reviews each compensation element to determine whether it fits into HEI's overall compensation objectives. The committee also requests that, at least annually, management prepare and the consultant review tally sheets on each executive officer to determine how each executive's elements of pay—such as base salary, annual incentives, benefits and long-term incentives—compared to executives in functionally comparable positions at peer companies. The Compensation Committee uses this information to consider whether any element should be reduced or increased or whether the mix of elements should be changed.

        The Compensation Committee also reviews internal equity among the named executive officers when developing pay recommendations. The Compensation Committee believes that the comparative compensation among the named executive officers is fair, considering job scope, experience, value to the organization and duties relative to the other named executive officers.


Compensation Elements

        In May 2010, the Board evaluated Ms. Lau's performance for the prior year and the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board a salary increase taking into consideration the Board's evaluation. Also, in May 2010, Ms. Lau recommended to the Compensation Committee base salary increases for Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum. These adjustments were considered by the Compensation Committee to be relatively modest in light of the salary freeze in effect for named executive officers during 2009 (excluding one salary adjustment in 2009 for Mr. Richardson, who assumed additional responsibilities in 2009). After considering these recommendations, the following salary adjustments, effective May 1, 2010, were approved by the Board:

Name
  % Base
Salary
Increase
  $ Base
Salary
Increase
  Base Salary
Effective
May 1, 2010
 

Constance H. Lau

    3.0 % $ 23,200   $ 795,000  

James A. Ajello

    4.0 % $ 17,000   $ 442,000  

Chester A. Richardson

    3.4 % $ 12,000   $ 361,000  

Richard M. Rosenblum

    1.2 % $ 7,000   $ 587,000  

Timothy K. Schools (1)

    n/a     n/a   $ 550,000  

Richard F. Wacker (2)

    n/a     n/a     n/a  

(1)
Mr. Schools voluntarily resigned in September 2010.

(2)
Mr. Wacker was hired by American Savings Bank as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 15, 2010 and received an annualized base salary of $550,000.

        HEI's annual incentive plan is known as the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EICP). For the 2010 EICP, the Compensation Committee established minimum thresholds for each of the financial and other operational goals of the annual executive incentive plan designed to align management decisions with shareholder value. The table below lists the named executive officer performance metrics, weightings, minimum thresholds and target and maximum goals for the 2010 annual incentive compensation plan. Unless otherwise specified throughout this Proxy Statement, a reference to utility goals means consolidated goals of the utilities, which include Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company.

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        In setting Mr. Schools' goals, the Compensation Committee determined to exclude one-time charges such as severance and lease buyouts in light of American Savings Bank's aggressive performance improvement project to reduce its cost structure and improve its efficiency, profitability and go-forward earnings. The committee, however, retained the discretion to reduce any such award if the resulting payout was not in the best interest of HEI and its shareholders. In setting goals for the other named executive officers, the committee also determined that any adjustments made at American Savings Bank and Hawaiian Electric Company would also be applied for purposes of calculating HEI metrics.

Name
  Weight   Performance
Metric
  Minimum
Threshold
  Target
Goal
  Maximum
Goal
Constance H. Lau
James A. Ajello
Chester A. Richardson
    50 % HEI Return on Average Common Equity   7.2%   7.9%   8.5%
      50 % HEI Net Income   $105 million   $115 million   $125 million
                     
      100 %              
                     
                        
Richard M. Rosenblum     15 % HEI Net Income   $105 million   $115 million   $125 million
                        
      15 % HEI Return on Average Common Equity   7.2%   7.9%   8.5%
                        
      40 % Utility Net Income   $75 million   $80 million   $85 million
                        
      10 % Utility Safety (Total Cases Incident Rate)   3.20   2.41   1.41
                        
      10 % Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI)   Meet minimum project milestones   Meet target project milestones   Meet maximum project milestones
                        
      10 % Utility Customer Satisfaction   76.6%   78.2%   82.0%
                     
      100 %              
                     
                        
Timothy K. Schools
Richard F. Wacker
    50 % Bank Return on Assets   1.00%   1.10%   1.20%
                        
      50 % Bank Net Income   $50 million   $55 million   $60 million
                     
      100 %              
                     

        The above goals were set by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board in 2010 because they were believed to provide the necessary incentives to properly align executive compensation with achievement of performance goals that enhance shareholder value. HEI's goals of net income and return on average common equity are determined on a consolidated basis, and are thus impacted by the results from both American Savings Bank and Hawaiian Electric Company.

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        The following were the award ranges, shown as a percentage of annual base salary, that the Compensation Committee approved in February 2010 for the 2010 EICP:

Name
  Minimum   Target   Maximum  

Constance H. Lau

    42.5 %   85 %   170 %

James A. Ajello

    25 %   50 %   100 %

Chester A. Richardson

    25 %   50 %   100 %

Richard M. Rosenblum

    30 %   60 %   120 %

Timothy K. Schools (1)

    40 %   80 %   160 %

Richard F. Wacker (2)

    40 %   80 %   160 %

(1)
For purposes of incentive plan awards only, Mr. Schools was credited for a full twelve months in 2010 as part of his separation arrangement.

(2)
Mr. Wacker was eligible to participate in the annual incentive plan prorated for American Savings Bank's actual performance and actual days worked from his date of hire in November 2010.

        HEI's adjusted net income, after excluding from HEI consolidated net income $272,000 of committee-approved exclusions for severance expenses and lease buyouts related to the performance improvement project, was $113.8 million, which exceeds the 2010 minimum threshold of $105 million, and its adjusted return on common equity was 7.8%, which exceeds the minimum 2010 threshold of 7.2%. As a result, named executive officers Ms. Lau and Messrs. Ajello and Richardson received awards for performance between the minimum threshold and target goal levels. Mr. Rosenblum's bonus was impacted in part because 30 percent of his goals were based on achievement of HEI goals, with the other 70 percent being based on utility goals.

        In 2010, the utility met the following annual incentive goals:

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        With respect to the goals for Messrs. Schools and Wacker, American Savings Bank's return on assets, after approved exclusions for severance expenses and lease buyouts related to the performance improvement project, was 1.21%, which was at the maximum level for that performance metric, and its net income was $58.7 million, which was between the target goal and maximum level for that performance metric. The Compensation Committee concluded that it was appropriate to recognize the outstanding performance of American Savings Bank executives in completing the bank's aggressive multi-year performance improvement project. As a result of American Savings Bank's performance, Messrs. Schools and Wacker received an award based on performance at a level between the target and maximum levels. Mr. Schools had earlier agreed to remain with the bank until the performance improvement project was substantially completed. After the project's completion in August 2010, the Company agreed to a September departure by Mr. Schools but with credit for a full year's service in 2010 for purposes of the incentive compensation programs in recognition of his leadership in completing the bank's performance improvement initiative. Mr. Wacker, who was hired on November 15, 2010, received an award prorated for the days worked in 2010.

        As a result of achieving the aforementioned goals at the levels indicated above, the Compensation Committee approved in February 2011 the payment of the following 2010 annual incentive awards to the named executive officers:

Name
  Payout  

Constance H. Lau

  $ 625,202  

James A. Ajello

  $ 203,830  

Chester A. Richardson

  $ 166,770  

Richard M. Rosenblum

  $ 282,037  

Timothy K. Schools

  $ 824,032  

Richard F. Wacker

  $ 103,851  

        HEI's three-year performance incentive plan is otherwise known as the Long-Term Incentive Plan and provides awards measured over rolling three-year performance periods. In 2008, the Compensation Committee approved the following award ranges, shown as a percentage of the salary midpoint (the middle salary level in a salary range for a particular job grade or position), for the following HEI named executive officers who were participants in the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan:

Name
  Minimum   Target   Maximum   Super Maximum  

Constance H. Lau

    65 %   130 %   260 %   n/a  

Chester A. Richardson (1)

    30 %   60 %   120 %   n/a  

Timothy K. Schools (2)

    40 %   80 %   100 %   175 %

(1)
Mr. Richardson's 2008-2010 long-term incentive award was prorated based on 14 months at his HEI Vice President-General Counsel salary midpoint and 22 months at his HEI Senior Vice President-General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer salary midpoint.

(2)
Mr. Schools' 2008-2010 long-term incentive award was prorated based on one month at his American Savings Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer salary midpoint and 35 months at his President salary midpoint.

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        In addition to the minimum, target and maximum levels, the American Savings Bank 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan also has a super maximum level. This additional level was included for this performance period to focus Mr. Schools and the other American Savings Bank executives on achieving the highest established goals for net income, return on assets and efficiency ratio, and was established for American Savings Bank executives in recognition for the extraordinary work that needed to be achieved by the bank in a short period to improve its performance.

        In addition to the basic long-term incentive plan, the Compensation Committee also approved supplemental long-term incentive award levels for the 2008-2010 period for each of the above-named executive officers so that HEI's long-term incentive program would be even more performance-based. Rather than providing restricted stock awards at the levels given in 2007, the Committee reduced the restricted stock awards given to the named executive officers and provided an additional supplemental long-term incentive opportunity, using the same goals, metrics and exclusions as in the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan. Payment of any awards made under this supplemental program would be paid in a combination of 50% cash and 50% stock (versus 60% cash and 40% stock for the basic long-term incentive plan) to promote greater stock ownership and alignment with shareholder interests. The following are the award levels for these supplemental incentives:

Name
  Minimum   Target   Maximum  

Constance H. Lau

    13.5 %   27 %   54 %

Chester A. Richardson (1)

    6.5 %   10 %   20 %

Timothy K. Schools (2)

    10 %   20 %   42 %

(1)
Mr. Richardson's supplemental 2008-2010 long-term incentive award was prorated based on 14 months at his HEI Vice President-General Counsel salary midpoint and 22 months at his HEI Senior Vice President-General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer salary midpoint.

(2)
Mr. Schools' supplemental 2008-2010 long-term incentive award was prorated based on one month at his American Savings Bank Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer salary midpoint and 35 months at his President salary midpoint.

        Messrs. Ajello, Rosenblum and Wacker did not participate in the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan and supplemental 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan because they became employed at their respective companies after the start of this performance period.

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        The table below shows the performance metrics, weightings, minimum threshold, target, maximum and super maximum goals for the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan and supplemental 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan. The executives listed together below shared the same goals.

Name
  Weight   Performance
Metric
  Minimum
Threshold
  Target
Goal
  Maximum
Goal
  Super
Maximum
Goal
Constance H. Lau
Chester A. Richardson
    40 % HEI Total Return to Shareholders   30th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index (1)   50th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index (1)   70th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index (1)   n/a
                            
      15 % Utility Free Cash Flow (2)   ($24.1 million)   ($13.0 million)   ($1.8 million)   n/a
                            
      15 % Utility Return on Average Common Equity (3)   90% of consolidated allowed rate of return on equity less 50 basis points   95% of consolidated allowed rate of return on equity less 50 basis points   100% of consolidated allowed rate of return on equity less 50 basis points   n/a
                            
      15 % Bank Net Income (4)   $55.277 million   $57.053 million   $62.025 million   n/a
                            
      15 % Bank Return on Assets (4)   0.789%   0.816%   0.885%   n/a
                         
      100 %                  
                         
                            
Timothy K. Schools     40 % Bank Net Income (4)   $55.277 million   $57.053 million   $62.025 million   $68.082 million
                            
      30 % Bank Return on Assets (4)   0.789%   0.816%   0.885%   0.952%
                            
      30 % Bank Efficiency Ratio (4)   65.47%   64.83%   63.20%   61.16%
                         
      100 %                  
                         

(1)
The Edison Electric Institute is an association of U.S. investor-owned electric companies that are representative of companies that are comparable investment alternatives to HEI. The Institute's members serve 95% of the ultimate customers in the investor-owned segment of the industry and represent approximately 70% of the U.S. electric power industry. The three-year Edison Electric Institute Index measures performance data for U.S. investor-owned electric utilities. The performance of the companies in the index is calculated on a noncapitalized weighted basis so as not to give a disproportionate emphasis to the larger companies. Companies are added to or deleted from the three-year index through acquisitions or merger or other changes in ownership. The Edison Electric Institute includes a company in the index when it has three years of consistent comparable data in comparison to the peer group. HEI uses its ranking in the Edison Electric Institute Index to determine how well it performed in the three-year performance period

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Allegheny Energy
ALLETE
Alliant Energy
Ameren
American Electric Power
Avista
Black Hills
Centerpoint Energy
Central Vermont Public
    Service
CH Energy Group
CLECO
CMS Energy
Consolidated Edison
Constellation Energy Group
Dominion
DPL
DTE Energy
Duke Energy
Edison International
  El Paso Electric
The Empire District Electric
Entergy
Exelon
First Energy
Great Plains Energy
Hawaiian Electric Industries
IDACORP
Integrys Energy Group
MDU Resources Group
MGE Energy
NEXTERA Energy
NiSource
Northeast Utilities
NorthWestern Energy
NSTAR
NV Energy
OGE Energy
Otter Tail
  Pepco Holdings
PG&E
Pinnacle West Capital
PNM Resources
Portland General Electric
PPL
Progress Energy
Public Service Enterprise
    Group
Scana
Sempra Energy
Southern
TECO Energy
UIL Holdings
UniSource Energy
Unitil
Vectren
Westar Energy
Wisconsin Energy
Xcel Energy

 
(2)
The three-year performance measure of Utility Free Cash Flow will equal the average of each year's actual results. Utility Free Cash Flow is equal to: Net Cash provided by Operating Activities minus Net Capital Expenditures.

(3)
The performance measure of Utility Return on Average Common Equity (ROACE) will be based on the relationship between Hawaiian Electric Company's consolidated ratemaking ROACE and its weighted-average consolidated allowed rate of return (to be determined by returns allowed per the most recent interim or final Public Utilities Commission decision in effect) less 50 basis points for each of the three years. The minimum or better must be achieved in at least two of the three years in the performance period.

(4)
Results measured in the third year of the performance period.

        The above goals were set by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board in 2008, because they were believed to provide the necessary incentives to align executive compensation with long-term shareholder value. The minimum performance levels reflected what the Compensation Committee believed to be investors' minimum expectations relative to other investment opportunities and the maximum goal provided greater upside potential for performance stretch goals. Each goal was aligned with HEI's or the operating company's strategic plan and determined by the Compensation Committee to be sufficiently difficult to be worthy of a bonus.

        HEI's three-year total return to shareholders was 19% and HEI ranked in the 75th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index, which was above the maximum level for that performance metric. As a result, named executive officers Ms. Lau and Mr. Richardson received awards at the maximum level for the portion of incentive compensation correlated to that performance measure.

        Net income, return on assets and efficiency ratio are standard measurements used by banks to gauge performance. American Savings Bank's results for these goals were measured in the third year of performance to incent bank executives in pursuing its aggressive performance improvement project because the results of these improvements would be fully achieved toward the end of the three-year performance period. American Savings Bank's net income after approved exclusions for severance expenses and lease buyouts of $272,000 related to the performance improvement project was $58.7 million, bank return on assets was 1.21%, and its efficiency ratio was 56%. As a result of American Savings Bank's performance, Ms. Lau and Mr. Richardson received an award based on

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performance at a level between the target and maximum levels for net income and at the maximum level for bank return on assets for the long-term incentive plan and the supplemental long-term incentive plan. Mr. Schools received an award based on performance at a level between target and maximum for the net income goal for the long-term incentive plan and at a level between minimum and target for the net income goal for the supplemental long-term incentive plan. He received an award at the super maximum level for the return on assets and efficiency ratio goals for the long-term incentive plan and at the maximum level for the return on assets and efficiency ratio goals for the supplemental long-term incentive plan. Mr. Schools had earlier agreed to remain with American Savings Bank until the performance improvement project was substantially completed. After the project's completion in August 2010, the Company agreed to a September 2010 departure by Mr. Schools but with credit for the full three years of service for purposes of the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan programs to recognize his outstanding performance in completing the bank's aggressive performance improvement effort.

        The utility average annual free cash flow was $3.0 million, which was at the maximum level. As a result, named executive officers Ms. Lau and Mr. Richardson received an award based on the maximum level for that performance measure.

        A higher total return to shareholders and increased American Savings Bank net income, return on assets and efficiency ratio benefit shareholders of HEI, employees and customers by increasing the overall financial strength of the HEI enterprise. Because of the achievement of these goals at the levels indicated above, on February 4, 2011 the Compensation Committee approved the following long-term incentive awards under the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan for the named executive officers who were in the plan, payable 60% in cash and 40% in shares of HEI Common Stock:

Name
  Total Payout  

Constance H. Lau

  $ 1,614,618  

Chester A. Richardson

  $ 340,113  

Timothy K. Schools

  $ 757,362  

        In addition, the Compensation Committee also approved the following supplemental long-term incentive awards payable 50% in cash and 50% in shares of HEI Common Stock:

Name
  Total Payout  

Constance H. Lau

  $ 335,344  

Chester A. Richardson

  $ 56,685  

Timothy K. Schools

  $ 162,048  

        HEI's 2009-2011 long-term incentive plan was explained in the proxy statement for HEI's 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

        The Compensation Committee modified the design of the long-term incentive plan from the 2009-2011 performance period for the 2010-2012 performance period based on Company strategy and recommendations of Fred Cook & Co. after its executive compensation review. Awards under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan generally will be paid 100% in shares of HEI Common Stock plus accrued dividends less applicable taxes with the potential number of shares to be issued determined at the beginning of the performance period, instead of at the time of the payment of the award. The number of shares was determined by the Compensation Committee based on the participant's salary at the beginning of the performance period and the fair market value of HEI Common Stock on the date the award opportunity was established. The Compensation Committee believes that setting a fixed number of shares determined at the beginning of the performance period, rather than a number of shares determined by the dollar value of the award divided by the market price of the shares at payout, encourages even greater alignment of executive incentives with shareholder interests and will appropriately incentivize and reward executives to improve long-term shareholder value.

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        In February 2010, the Compensation Committee established the following award ranges for the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan, shown as a percentage of actual annual base salaries on January 1, 2010, for the named executive officers:

Name
  Minimum   Target   Maximum  

Constance H. Lau

    70 %   140 %   280 %

James A. Ajello

    40 %   80 %   160 %

Chester A. Richardson

    35 %   70 %   140 %

Richard M. Rosenblum

    45 %   90 %   180 %

        Mr. Schools forfeited his participation in the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan when he resigned in September 2010. Mr. Wacker is not participating in the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan because he became employed at the bank after the start of this performance period.

        The Compensation Committee also approved the following long-term incentive goals for the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan performance period for each of the participating named executive officers. The executives listed together below share the same goals.

Name
  Weight   Performance
Metric (1)
  Minimum
Threshold
  Target Goal   Maximum Goal
Constance H. Lau
James A. Ajello
Chester A. Richardson
    50 % HEI Total Return to Shareholders (2)   30th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index   50th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index   75th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index
                        
      50 % HEI 2-year Average Consolidated Net Income (3)   $172 million   $191 million   $210 million
                     
      100 %              
                     
                        
Richard M. Rosenblum     40 % HEI Total Return to Shareholders   30th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index   50th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index   75th percentile of the Edison Electric Institute Index
                        
      30 % HEI 2-year Average Consolidated Net Income (3)   $172 million   $191 million   $210 million
                        
      30 % Utility Consolidated Return on 2-year Average Common Equity (4)   8.5%   9.1%   10.0%
                     
      100 %              
                     

(1)
The actual award will be at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. Any committee-authorized adjustments of American Savings Bank or Hawaiian Electric Company metrics would be applied for purposes of calculating HEI metric results for the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan.

(2)
The Total Return to Shareholders performance measurement will be based on the relationship between HEI's total return and that of the Edison Electric Institute Index. The Total Return to Shareholders is the sum of

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(3)
HEI Consolidated Net Income is the generally accepted accounting principle net income presented in HEI's annual financial statements adjusted for exclusions allowed for American Savings Bank and Hawaiian Electric Company by the Compensation Committee and will be measured at the end of the performance period based on the average net income for 2011 and 2012.

(4)
Utility Consolidated Return on 2-year Average Common Equity (ROACE) is the average of the Utility Consolidated ROACE for 2011 and 2012. Utility Consolidated ROACE is calculated by dividing net income by the average common equity for each year. Average common equity is calculated by adding the common equity at the beginning of the period and common equity at the end of the period and dividing the result by two.

        The Compensation Committee chose the above goals to encourage long-term achievement of HEI earnings and enhancement of shareholder value. Shareholders, customers and employees all benefit when these goals are met. Total Return to Shareholders is a performance measure to show the return on stock to an investor. HEI's total return is compared to that of the Edison Electric Institute Index of investor-owned electric companies. It is a primary measure that reflects value created for shareholders compared to that created by other investor-owned electric companies. Utility Consolidated ROACE is a measure of the utility's ability to earn net income as a percentage of HEI's equity. As Utility Consolidated ROACE increases, it reduces the difference between the ROACE allowed by regulation and its actual ROACE, thus providing more income and thereby increasing the utilities' dividends to HEI. HEI, in turn, is made stronger financially and better able to maintain shareholder dividends and invest in value-enhancing investments, including reinvesting in the utilities. There is also a strong correlation between a higher Utility Consolidated ROACE and market value of HEI.

        HEI provides stock awards to the named executive officers to strengthen the linkage of executive compensation with improvement in shareholder value and promote executive retention.

        Long-term incentive awards in 2010 through 2012 were or will be paid at least partially in the form of stock as follows:

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        The named executive officers are eligible to receive annual equity awards as determined by the Compensation Committee. The intent of the annual equity awards program is to encourage executive retention by providing for equity compensation based on staying at the Company for a specified period of time.

        In 2010, restricted stock units were granted to the named executive officers, except for Mr. Schools (who received no equity awards in 2010) and Mr. Wacker (who received an award of restricted stock as part of his signing bonus). With restricted stock units, no stock is issued or outstanding until the actual release of the shares at vesting. The restricted stock units awarded in 2010 vest four years after the grant date, except that monthly pro-rata vesting applies upon an executive's retirement, death or disability. The restricted stock units accrue dividend equivalents until vested. The 2010 grants of restricted stock unit awards and restricted stock specific to the named executive officers are summarized in the 2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table and related notes below.

        The Compensation Committee determined the number of shares (or units) awarded in service vesting grants (versus shares that are performance based) in consultation with its compensation consultant and considering peer practices. Ms. Lau's restricted stock unit award total was determined after review of grants made to chief executive officers at peer companies and consideration of her total direct compensation compared to the peer group competitive median. The independent consultant also found that the equity grants to the other named executive officers are generally competitive with peers.

        The unvested value from the long-term incentive plan in restricted stock units is about twice the annual grant values, based upon the component allocation determined by the Compensation Committee to be appropriate, and which the Compensation Committee views as sufficient for retention purposes. The cliff vesting of the restricted stock units granted in 2010 ensures unvested value extends out four years with no pro-rata vesting before the vesting period ends (except when the participant's termination is due to retirement, death or disability), and therefore adds support for retention purposes. The restricted stock granted to Mr. Wacker as part of his signing bonus vests annually over a four-year period.

        HEI provides retirement benefits to all eligible employees, including the named executive officers (other than the American Savings Bank executive officers), through the tax-qualified HEI Retirement Plan as a means of providing financial security in recognition of their years of service. Additional retirement benefits are also provided to certain named executive officers through the nonqualified HEI Excess Pay Plan, which provides the portion of benefits that cannot be paid from the qualified plan due to Internal Revenue Code limits.

        Mr. Schools participated, and Mr. Wacker participates, in the American Savings Bank 401(k) Plan, a qualified defined contribution retirement plan that enables eligible employees to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. The plan allows eligible American Savings Bank employees to elect to reduce their salary in return for a tax-deferred contribution to their account in the plan. American Savings Bank provides matching contributions to the accounts of eligible employees of American Savings Bank on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 4% of eligible compensation, subject to the Internal Revenue Service limit on the amount of annual compensation that can be used for calculating benefits under qualified retirement plans. American Savings Bank also provides discretionary, nonelective profit sharing contributions to the accounts of eligible employees of American Savings Bank. In 2010, Mr. Schools received matching contributions for the 2010 plan year and a 4% profit sharing contribution for the 2009 plan year.

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        Retirement benefits under these plans specific to the named executive officers as of December 31, 2010 are discussed in further detail in the 2010 Pension Benefits table and related notes below.

        HEI provides named executive officers with the opportunity to participate in deferred compensation plans that allow them to defer compensation and the resulting tax liability.

        Deferred compensation benefits under these plans specific to the named executive officers in 2010 are discussed in further detail in the 2010 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table and related notes below.

        The Executive Death Benefit Plan of HEI and Participating Subsidiaries, which provides death benefits to an executive's beneficiaries in the event of an executive's death while employed or after retirement, was closed to new participants effective September 9, 2009. These death benefits are provided to beneficiaries of named executive officers who were participants in the plan prior to that date. In addition, the benefits to beneficiaries of participants who were employees as of such date were frozen (i.e., the plan was amended to foreclose any increase in death benefits that would occur due to salary increases after September 9, 2009). Under the original terms of the Executive Death Benefit Plan contracts with the participants, as in effect before September 9, 2009, the death benefits were grossed up for tax purposes. This treatment was considered appropriate because the executive death benefit is a form of life insurance and traditionally life insurance proceeds have been tax-exempt. Ms. Lau and Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum are covered under the Executive Death Benefit Plan. Mr. Schools did not participate in the plan. Mr. Wacker is not covered under the plan because he became an HEI executive officer after September 9, 2009. Death benefits are discussed in further detail in the 2010 Pension Benefits table and related notes below.

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        The Compensation Committee and Board view change-in-control agreements to be an appropriate tool to recruit executives as an expected part of the compensation package, to encourage the continued attention of key executives to the performance of their assigned duties without distraction in the event of a potential change in control and to assist in retaining key executives. Change-in-control agreements can also protect against executive flight during a transaction when key executives might, in the absence of the agreement, accept employment with competitors. Accordingly, each of the named executive officers has a change-in-control agreement, except that Mr. Schools' agreement expired upon his resignation from American Savings Bank.

        In recommending the terms of executive change-in-control agreements to the Board, the Compensation Committee varies the severance multiplier among executives, taking into account the executive's expected role in a potential transaction, value to the organization and fairness. The change-in-control agreements are double trigger, which means that the executives receive severance payments only if there is both a change in control and they lose their jobs as a result. The change-in-control agreements approved by the Compensation Committee provide for cash lump sum severance multipliers of three times for Ms. Lau and two times for Messrs. Ajello, Richardson, Rosenblum and Wacker. The multiplier is applied to the sum of the executive's annual base salary and annual bonus (determined to be the greater of the current target bonus or the largest actual bonus during the preceding three fiscal years). The severance benefits are conditioned on the Company receiving a release of claims by the executive.

        The change-in-control agreements have initial terms of two years and are automatically renewed for an additional year on each anniversary unless 90 days' notice of nonrenewal is provided by either party, so that the protected period is at least one year upon nonrenewal. The agreements remain in effect for two years following a change in control. The change-in-control agreements define a change in control to mean a change in ownership of HEI, a substantial change in the voting power of HEI's securities or a change in the majority of the composition of the Board following a consummation of a merger, tender offer or similar transaction. The change-in-control agreements for Messrs. Rosenblum and Wacker also define a change in control as a change in ownership of Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank, respectively. Change-in-control benefits specific to the named executive officers are discussed in further detail in the Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control section and related notes below.

        HEI provides certain limited other compensation to the named executive officers because they are commonly provided to business executives in Hawaii, such as club memberships primarily for the purpose of business entertainment, or are necessary to recruit executives, such as relocation expenses or extra weeks of vacation, or because of legacy programs that have since been discontinued, such as preferential mortgage loans.

        In 2010, each of the named executive officers had a club membership for the primary purpose of business entertainment expected of executives in their positions. Ms. Lau continues to have a preferential rate mortgage loan from American Savings Bank, which ceased offering such loans to its employees and executives as of July 1, 2009.

        HEI has eliminated all tax gross-up practices where possible, particularly with respect to perquisites. HEI may, from time to time, reimburse for reasonable business-related expenses. Messrs. Ajello and Rosenblum each received a signing bonus upon being hired in 2009 by HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, respectively, subject to monthly pro-rata reimbursement in the event of a voluntary termination or termination for cause prior to the completion of 36 months of service. As part of their employment offers, Messrs. Ajello and Rosenblum also were extended special 3-year declining severance agreements

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that provide that, in the event their employment is terminated without cause on or before the third anniversary of the date of their hire, they will be paid a declining portion of their annual base salary and any target annual bonus amount, depending on the length of their service. Such severance agreements are not uncommon when hiring experienced executives, especially from the mainland United States, who may have difficulty in finding other employment if their job is terminated within months of their hire and relocation. In order to recruit Mr. Rosenblum, an experienced utility executive, Hawaiian Electric Company also agreed to give Mr. Rosenblum a credit of two years age and service for purposes of calculating his retirement benefits under the HEI Excess Pay Plan. Mr. Rosenblum also received ten days of sick leave and four weeks of vacation as part of his offer, which is more than a new employee would usually receive.

        For purposes of retention of Mr. Schools, who was instrumental to the success of the bank's performance improvement project, American Savings Bank agreed to purchase his residence in Honolulu (at its original purchase price of $3.635 million, less normal selling costs including brokers' commissions) by June 30, 2011 or, if earlier, his termination as an American Savings Bank employee, as long as Mr. Schools remained employed at American Savings Bank through the end of 2010 or such earlier date as the Company determined in its sole discretion. American Savings Bank purchased Mr. Schools' residence in August 2010 in connection with his voluntary resignation from the bank in September 2010.

        As part of Mr. Wacker's recruitment, he was granted four weeks of vacation annually upon commencement of his employment, which is more than a new employee would usually receive.

        Other than the special severance agreements mentioned above for Messrs. Ajello and Rosenblum, there are no separate severance agreements for the named executive officers. The named executive officers would participate in the same manner as all HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company employees in the Company's standard severance policy based on years of service to the Company. American Savings Bank has no severance plan or program applicable to its executives or employees.





Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

        The following table shows the base salary, bonus, grant date fair value of stock awards, nonequity incentive compensation under the 2010 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EICP) and under the long-term incentive plan for the period 2008-2010, change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings and all other compensation and benefits earned by the named executive officers during 2008, 2009 and 2010 (as applicable). Only the amounts reported in the "Salary," "Bonus," and "Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation" columns of the table represent cash compensation earned for the applicable year, which is comprised of base salary, annual incentive bonuses, the cash portion of long-term incentive awards for the performance period ending in the applicable year and, to the extent applicable, the cash portion of a signing bonus awarded to a named executive officer in the year such executive was hired.

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2010 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*

Name and
2010 Principal Positions
  Year   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($) (1)
  Stock
Awards
($) (2)
  Nonequity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3)
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($) (4)
  All Other
Compensation
($) (5)
  Total
($)
 
Constance H. Lau     2010     787,267         1,722,253     2,575,164     1,448,910     34,408     6,568,002  
  HEI President and Chief     2009     771,800         921,483     338,106     774,297     34,049     2,839,735  
  Executive Officer     2008     763,200         197,640     1,363,695     1,394,006     40,727     3,759,268  
  American Savings Bank
Chair
Hawaiian Electric Company
Chair
                                                 
   
James A. Ajello**     2010     436,333         597,479     203,830     180,636     25,741     1,444,019  
  HEI Senior Financial Vice     2009     389,583     250,000     255,509     223,889     157,041     209,912     1,485,934  
  President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer                                                  
   
Chester A. Richardson***     2010     357,000         447,715     563,568     178,365     16,605     1,563,253  
  HEI Senior Vice President,     2009     344,400         112,316     197,916     119,845     15,111     789,588  
  General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer     2008     317,600         37,058     246,492     89,487     125,768     816,405  
   
Richard M. Rosenblum****     2010     584,667         786,620     282,037     279,777     26,335     1,959,436  
  Hawaiian Electric Company     2009     580,000     250,000     348,916     322,289     435,513     149,881     2,086,599  
  President and Chief Executive Officer                                                  
   
Richard F. Wacker*****     2010     68,750     150,020     399,980     103,851             722,601  
  American Savings Bank                                                  
  President and Chief Executive Officer                                                  
   
Timothy K. Schools******     2010     366,667             1,743,442         147,752     2,257,861  
  Former American Savings     2009     550,000             528,000     85     73,121     1,151,206  
  Bank President     2008     541,667         98,820     632,400     19,682     87,339     1,379,908  
   
*
Certain of the compensation figures for the named executive officers reported in the table above increased significantly in 2010 compared to 2009, due in large part to (i) a change in long-term incentive plan design to provide that awards for the 2010-2012 performance period will be paid 100% in HEI Common Stock and (ii) the completion in 2010 of American Savings Bank's multi-year performance improvement initiative. The 2010 amounts reported under "Stock Awards" increased from 2009 because the award under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan (payable at the end of the three-year performance period only to the extent performance goals are met) will be paid 100% in HEI Common Stock (plus accrued dividends less applicable taxes), compared to 60% in cash and 40% in HEI Common Stock (plus accrued dividends less applicable taxes) for the award under the 2009-2011 long-term incentive plan, in order to encourage even greater alignment of executive incentives with shareholders' long-term interests. The increase in the amount reported under "Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation" for Ms. Lau for 2010 compared to 2009 reflects the fact that (i) Ms. Lau voluntarily waived a bonus of $753,999 that she earned for 2009 performance under the 2009 annual incentive plan and (ii) the long-term incentive plan award in 2010 (under the 2008-2010 long-term incentive plan and the 2008-2010 supplemental long-term incentive plan) was greater than the long-term incentive plan award in 2009 (under the 2007-2009 long-term incentive plan) because the levels of performance achieved in the 2008-2010 performance period reflected the completion of the bank's multi-year performance improvement initiative. The completion of this initiative in the 2008-2010 performance period also affected the 2010 amount reported under "Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation" for

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**
Mr. Ajello joined HEI as Senior Financial Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer on January 26, 2009.

***
Mr. Richardson's annualized base salary as of January 1, 2009 of $321,400 was increased to an annualized base salary of $349,000, effective March 2, 2009, to reflect an increase in his responsibilities.

****
Mr. Rosenblum joined Hawaiian Electric Company as President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2009.

*****
Mr. Wacker joined American Savings Bank as President on November 15, 2010. His 2010 annualized base salary was $550,000.

******
Mr. Schools voluntarily resigned from American Savings Bank on September 10, 2010.

(1)
Bonus. Represents bonuses paid in cash that were not awarded under a nonequity incentive plan. Bonuses awarded under nonequity incentive plans are reported under "Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation." Mr. Wacker received a signing bonus of $550,000 upon his hiring in 2010, which was paid $150,020 in cash and $399,980 in restricted shares.

(2)
Stock Awards. Stock awards represent the opportunity for executives to earn shares of stock over a four-year vesting period or upon achievement of certain performance goals over a three-year period. Stock awards include restricted shares, restricted stock units and performance awards under the long-term incentive plan established during the applicable year to the extent any actual award at the end of the performance period will be payable in stock. The grant date fair value of restricted shares granted to Mr. Wacker in connection with his hiring in 2010 was $399,980. The grant date fair value of the restricted stock units granted to named executive officers in 2010 was: Ms. Lau $541,750; Mr. Ajello $226,000; Mr. Richardson $180,800; and Mr. Rosenblum $226,000. The grant date fair values of the performance awards under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan are based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date, which is assumed to be the target level. The target value of the performance awards under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan is: Ms. Lau $1,180,503; Mr. Ajello $371,479; Mr. Richardson $266,915; and Mr. Rosenblum $560,620. Assuming achievement of the highest level of performance conditions, the maximum value of the performance awards under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan is: Ms. Lau $2,360,964; Mr. Ajello $742,916; Mr. Richardson $533,789; and Mr. Rosenblum $1,121,263. Mr. Schools voluntarily resigned from American Savings Bank in September 2010 and forfeited all stock units and performance awards granted in 2010. For a discussion of the assumptions underlying the amounts set out for the restricted shares, restricted stock units and performance awards, see Note 10 to HEI's Consolidated Financial Statements in HEI's 2010 Form 10-K.

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(3)
Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation. This column includes the following annual incentive awards paid for 2010 performance under HEI's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EICP): Ms. Lau $625,202; Mr. Ajello $203,830; Mr. Richardson $166,770; Mr. Rosenblum $282,037; Mr. Wacker $103,851 and Mr. Schools $824,032. Long-term incentive plan awards are generally determined in the first quarter of each year for the three-year cycle ending on December 31 of the previous calendar year. This column also includes the following long-term incentive awards paid for the 2008-2010 performance period: Ms. Lau $1,949,962; Mr. Richardson $396,798 and Mr. Schools $919,410. The 2008-2010 long-term incentive awards were paid 60% in cash and 40% in shares (or 50% in cash and 50% in shares for the supplemental LTIP awards) of HEI Common Stock (based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the stock on the award date).

(4)
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. These amounts represent the increase in present value of the accrued pension and executive death benefits for each named executive officer from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2010, December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008, respectively. This change in present value is not a current cash payment. It represents the change in value of pension and executive death benefits, which are only paid after retirement or death, as applicable. The amounts shown can vary significantly from year to year based upon changes in the factors involved in calculating the present value of accrued pension and executive death benefits. This calculation is affected by changes in years of service, age, salary, discount rates and other actuarial assumptions. In 2010, the discount rate used to calculate the present value of pension benefits decreased from 2009. The discount rate reflects the market rates currently applicable to settling the benefit obligation or the rates of return on high quality fixed income securities at the measurement date. A reduction in the discount rate usually results in a greater present value of pension benefits owed to the named executive officer. For a further discussion of the applicable plans, see the 2010 Pension Benefits table and related notes below.

(5)
All Other Compensation. The following table summarizes the components of "All Other Compensation" paid with respect to 2010:

   
  Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits    
   
 
 
Name
  Relocation
Expenses
($)
  Preferential
Mortgage
Loan
Interest
($)
  Other
($)
  Payments
Received
Upon
Termination
($)
  Contributions
to Defined
Contribution
Plans
($)
  Total
All Other
Compensation
($)
 
 

Constance H. Lau

        23,209     11,199             34,408  
 

James A. Ajello

    4,746         20,995             25,741  
 

Chester A. Richardson

            16,605             16,605  
 

Richard M. Rosenblum

            26,335             26,335  
 

Richard F. Wacker

                         
 

Timothy K. Schools

        19,785     17,125     92,222     18,620     147,752  

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        Additional narrative disclosure about salary, bonus, stock awards, option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation, change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings and other compensation can be found in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.


Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The table below shows awards that may be made to the named executive officers under the 2010 annual incentive plan for 2010 performance and under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan for performance over the 2010-2012 period. Also shown are the restricted stock unit awards granted under the 1987 Stock Option and Incentive Plan in February 2010 and the restricted shares granted under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan in December 2010.

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2010 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)
(3)
   
 
 
   
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Nonequity Incentive
Plan Awards (1)
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (2)
   
 
 
   
  Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock Awards
($) (4)
 
Name
  Grant
Date
  Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#)
 

Constance H. Lau

  2/11/10 EICP     333,498     666,995     1,333,900                      

  2/08/10 LTIP                       28,517     57,035     114,069         1,180,503  

  6/09/10 RSU                             25,000     541,750  

James A. Ajello

 

2/11/10 EICP

   
108,025
   
216,050
   
432,100
   
   
   
   
   
 

  2/08/10 LTIP                       8,973     17,947     35,893         371,478  

  5/11/10 RSU                             10,000     226,000  

Chester A. Richardson

 

2/11/10 EICP

   
88,700
   
177,400
   
354,800
   
   
   
   
   
 

  2/08/10 LTIP                       6,448     12,895     25,790         266,915  

  5/11/10 RSU                             8,000     180,800  

Richard M. Rosenblum

 

2/11/10 EICP

   
176,900
   
353,800
   
707,600
   
   
   
   
   
 

  2/08/10 LTIP                       13,777     27,553     55,107         560,620  

  5/11/10 RSU                             10,000     226,000  

Richard F. Wacker

 

11/15/10 EICP

   
28,336
   
56,672
   
113,344
   
   
   
   
   
 

  12/09/10 RS                             18,009     399,980  

Timothy K. Schools (5)

 

2/11/10 EICP

   
222,933
   
445,867
   
891,733
   
   
   
   
   
 

  2/08/10 LTIP                       14,516     29,031     58,063          

EICP
Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (annual incentive)
LTIP
Long-Term Incentive Plan (2010-2012 period)
RS
Restricted shares
RSU
Restricted stock unit

(1)
Estimated Future Payouts Under Nonequity Incentive Plan Awards. Includes awards under the 2010 annual incentive plan based on meeting performance goals at threshold, target and maximum levels. See further discussion of the performance goals, award levels and payouts in February 2011 under this plan under "Compensation Elements—What was HEI's 2010 annual incentive plan and were there any payouts under this plan?" in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.

(2)
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards. Represents shares of stock that may be issued under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan based upon the achievement of performance goals at threshold, target and maximum levels and vesting at the end of the three-year performance period. Long-term incentive awards are forfeited for terminations of employment during the vesting period, except for terminations due to death, disability and retirement, which allow for pro-rata participation based upon completed months of service after a minimum of 12 months of service in the performance period. See further discussion of the features of the awards in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.

(3)
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units. Represents restricted shares and the shares underlying restricted stock units awarded in 2010. Restricted shares were awarded to Mr. Wacker as part of his signing bonus. The restricted shares become unrestricted in four equal annual increments on the grant date anniversary and are forfeited to the extent restrictions have not lapsed before a termination of employment during the vesting period, except for a termination due to death or disability or termination without cause, which result in the shares becoming fully vested. Restricted stock units shown in the table contemplate that shares will be issued as unrestricted stock four years after the date of the grant if the awardee has remained with the Company until that time. The restricted stock unit awards are forfeited for terminations of employment during the vesting period, except for terminations due to death, disability or retirement, which result in monthly pro-rata vesting of these awards. The primary purpose of the restricted shares and restricted stock unit awards is retention and there are no conditions to vesting other than expiration of the applicable vesting period. Dividends on restricted shares are paid quarterly in cash. Dividend equivalent rights are accrued quarterly and are paid in cash at the end of the restriction period when the restricted stock units vest.

(4)
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards. Grant date fair value for shares under the 2010-2012 long-term incentive plan are estimated in accordance with the fair-value based measurement of accounting, as described in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date. For a discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate the amounts reported, see the discussion of performance shares contained in Note 10 (Share-based compensation) to HEI's Consolidated Financial Statements in HEI's 2010 Form 10-K. Grant date fair value for restricted shares and restricted stock units is based on the average of the high and low sales prices of HEI Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of the grant of the award.

(5)
Mr. Schools voluntarily resigned from American Savings Bank in September 2010 and forfeited all participation in the 2010 awards.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2010 FISCAL YEAR-END

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested ($)
(2)
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other
Rights That
Have
Not Vested (#)
(3)
 
 
   
   
   
  Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
  Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options
   
   
  Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested (1)
 
 
   
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  Option
Expira-
tion
Date
 
Name
  Grant
Year
  Exer-
ciseable (#)
  Unexer-
ciseable (#)
  Number
(#)
  Market
Value ($) (2)
 

Constance H. Lau

    2002     50,000             21.68     4/22/12                  

    2002 DE     7,985                 4/22/12                  

    2003     50,000             20.49     4/21/13                  

    2003 DE     4,790                 4/21/13                  

    2004     50,000             26.02     4/19/14                  

    2004 DE     1,831                 4/19/14                  

    2005     50,000             26.18     4/07/15                  

    2007                         16,000     364,640          

    2008                         8,000     182,320          

    2009                         34,500     786,255     12,723     289,957  

    2010                         25,000     569,750     57,035     1,299,828  
       

    Total     214,606                     83,500     1,902,965     69,758     1,589,785  
   

James A. Ajello

    2009                         9,000     205,110     3,892     88,699  

    2010                         10,000     227,900     17,947     409,012  
       

    Total                         19,000     433,010     21,839     497,711  
   

Chester A. Richardson

    2007                         3,000     68,370          

    2008                         1,500     34,185          

    2009                         2,500     56,975     2,649     60,371  

    2010                         8,000     182,320     12,895     293,877  
       

    Total                         15,000     341,850     15,544     354,248  
   

Richard M. Rosenblum

    2009                         11,000     250,690     6,147     140,090  

    2010                         10,000     227,900     27,553     627,933  
       

    Total                         21,000     478,590     33,700     768,023  
   

Richard F. Wacker

    2010                         18,009     410,425          
       

    Total                         18,009     410,425          
   

Timothy K. Schools

                                         
       

    Total                                      

DE
Dividend equivalents

All information presented has been adjusted for the 2-for-1 stock split in June 2004.

(1)
Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested. The 2007 restricted stock awards become unrestricted on April 12, 2011 for Ms. Lau and on December 11, 2011 for Mr. Richardson. The 2008 restricted stock awards become unrestricted on April 15, 2012. The 2009 restricted stock unit awards become unrestricted on February 20, 2013. The 2010 restricted stock unit awards become unrestricted on June 9, 2014 for Ms. Lau and on May 11, 2014 for Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum. The 2010 restricted shares award to Mr. Wacker becomes unrestricted in equal annual increments on the grant date anniversary of December 9 over the four year period beginning December 9, 2010.

(2)
Market Value. Market value is based upon the closing price of HEI Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange of $22.79 as of December 31, 2010.

(3)
Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that Have Not Vested. Represents shares of HEI Common Stock that would be issued under the 2009-2011 and 2010-2012 long-term incentive plans based upon the achievement of performance goals at the threshold level for the 2009-2011 plan and at the target level for the 2010-2012 plan at the end of the three-year performance periods.

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

2010 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
  Value Realized on Exercise
($)
  Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
  Value Realized on
Vesting ($)
 

Constance H. Lau

    100,581 (1)   838,170     31,000 (2)   718,115  

James A. Ajello

                 

Chester A. Richardson

                 

Richard M. Rosenblum

                 

Richard F. Wacker

                 

Timothy K. Schools

                 

(1)
The options exercised by Ms. Lau were granted on April 24, 2000 and April 23, 2001 with exercise prices of $14.74 and $17.96, respectively.

(2)
Represents the vesting on May 13, 2010 of restricted stock issued on April 13, 2006.


Pension Benefits

        The table below shows the present value as of December 31, 2010 of accumulated benefits for each of the named executive officers and the number of years of service credited to each such executive under the applicable pension plan and executive death benefit plan, determined using the interest rate, mortality rate and other assumptions described below, which are consistent with those used in HEI's financial statements (see Note 9 to HEI's Consolidated Financial Statements in HEI's 2010 Form 10-K):


2010 PENSION BENEFITS

Name
  Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited
Service (#)
  Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit ($) (6)
  Payments During
the Last Fiscal
Year ($)
 

Constance H. Lau

 

HEI Retirement Plan (1)

    19.8     1,353,370      

 

American Savings Bank Retirement Plan (2)

    6.4     163,253      

 

HEI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (3)

    24.3     6,980,440      

 

HEI Excess Pay Plan (4)

    2.0     370,688      

 

HEI Executive Death Benefit (5)

        415,511        

James A. Ajello

 

HEI Retirement Plan (1)

    1.9     138,384      

 

HEI Excess Pay Plan (4)

    1.9     105,024      

 

HEI Executive Death Benefit (5)

        94,269      

Chester A. Richardson

 

HEI Retirement Plan (1)

    3.3     213,004      

 

HEI Excess Pay Plan (4)

    3.3     87,763        

 

HEI Executive Death Benefit (5)

        145,772      

Richard M. Rosenblum

 

HEI Retirement Plan (1)

    2.0     133,097      

 

HEI Excess Pay Plan (4)

    4.0     436,498      

 

HEI Executive Death Benefit (5)

        145,695      

Timothy K. Schools (7)

 

             

Richard F. Wacker (8)

 

             

(1)
Normal retirement benefits under the HEI Retirement Plan are calculated based on a formula of 2.04% × Credited Service (maximum 67%) × Final Average Pay (average monthly base salary for highest thirty-six consecutive months out of the last ten years). Credited service is generally the same as the years of

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(2)
Future benefit accruals for all participants under the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan were frozen effective December 31, 2007. Credited service and compensation after December 31, 2007 will not be recognized in calculating retirement benefits under the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan. Normal retirement benefits under the frozen American Savings Bank Retirement Plan are calculated based on a formula of 1.5% × Credited Service to December 31, 2007 (maximum 35 years) × Final Average Compensation at December 31, 2007 (averaged over the highest paying five consecutive calendar years out of the last ten calendar years prior to 2008). Compensation is primarily gross earnings but excludes commissions, stock options and other equity compensation, long-term incentive plan payments, deferrals to and distributions from the American Savings Bank Select Deferred Compensation Plan and other "fringe benefits" as defined in the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan. Early retirement benefits are available for participants who meet the age and service requirements at ages 55-64, with a minimum of 10 years of service. Early retirement benefits are reduced for participants who retire prior to age 65, based on the participant's age at the early retirement date. The accrued normal retirement benefit is reduced by an applicable percentage which ranges from 59.8% for early retirement at age 55 to 2% at age 64. Ms. Lau is a participant in the frozen American Savings Bank Retirement Plan. At the time of her promotion to HEI President and Chief Executive Officer on May 2, 2006, her credited service under the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan was frozen and she resumed participation in the HEI Retirement Plan. Ms. Lau is eligible for early retirement under the American Savings Bank Retirement Plan. Messrs. Schools and Wacker were not participants in the plan at the time it was frozen and are not entitled to any benefits under this plan.

(3)
The HEI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan was frozen effective December 31, 2008. Benefits under the HEI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan are determined based on a formula of 2.04% × Credited Service to December 31, 2008 (maximum 60%) × Final Average Compensation at December 31, 2008 (average monthly base salary plus annual executive incentive awards for the three highest calendar years out of the last sixty months prior to 2009). Benefits are reduced by benefits payable by the HEI Retirement Plan, American Savings Bank Retirement Plan, American Savings Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement,

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(4)
Benefits under the HEI Excess Pay Plan are determined using the same formula as the HEI Retirement Plan, but are not subject to the Internal Revenue Code limits on the amount of annual compensation that can be used for calculating benefits under qualified retirement plans ($245,000 in 2010 as indexed for inflation) and on the amount of annual benefits that can be paid from qualified retirement plans (the lesser of $195,000 in 2010 as indexed for inflation, or the participant's highest average compensation over three consecutive calendar years). Benefits payable under the HEI Excess Pay Plan are reduced by the benefit payable from the HEI Retirement Plan. Early retirement, death benefits and vesting provisions are similar to the HEI Retirement Plan. As of December 31, 2010, all of the named executive officers except for Messrs. Wacker and Schools were participants in the plan. Ms. Lau became a participant in this plan effective January 1, 2009. On November 16, 2009, the HEI Board approved an Addendum to the HEI Excess Pay Plan that granted Mr. Rosenblum an additional two years of service and two years added to his age to be applied in the calculation of his benefit under the HEI Excess Pay Plan. Ms. Lau is eligible for early retirement benefits under the HEI Excess Pay Plan. Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum are not eligible for early retirement benefits under the HEI Excess Pay Plan and have no vested interest in the amounts reported above because none of them have satisfied the five-year minimum service requirement.

(5)
Ms. Lau and Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum are covered by the Executive Death Benefit Plan of HEI and Participating Subsidiaries. The plan provides death benefits equal to two times the executive's base salary if the executive dies while actively employed or, if disabled, dies prior to age 65, and one times the executive's base salary if the executive dies following retirement. Death benefits are grossed up by the amount necessary to pay income taxes on the grossed up benefit amount as an equivalent to the exempt status of death benefits paid from a life insurance policy. The Executive Death Benefit Plan of HEI and Participating Subsidiaries was amended effective September 9, 2009 to close participation to new participants and freeze the benefit for existing participants. Under the amendment, death benefits including the grossed up amount will be paid based on salaries as of September 9, 2009. Benefits payable to the beneficiaries of Ms. Lau and Messrs. Ajello, Richardson and Rosenblum are equal to two times the respective executive's base salary as of September 9, 2009 if the executive dies while actively employed, or if the executive has become disabled and dies prior to age 65.

(6)
The present value of accumulated benefits for the named executive officers included in the 2010 Pension Benefits table was determined based on the following:

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(7)
Mr. Schools resigned from his employment with American Savings Bank in September 2010. He previously received a payout of the present value of his vested benefits in February 2009 and has no further rights in any of the plans described in the above 2010 Pension Benefits Table.

(8)
Mr. Wacker is not eligible to participate in any of the plans described in the above 2010 Pension Benefits table.


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

2010 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

Name
  Executive
Contributions in
Last FY ($)
  Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY ($)
  Aggregate
Earnings/
(Losses)
in Last FY ($)
  Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions ($)
  Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE ($)
 

Constance H. Lau (1)

            28,183         244,722  

James A. Ajello

                     

Chester A. Richardson

                     

Richard M. Rosenblum

                     

Richard F. Wacker

                     

Timothy K. Schools

                     

(1)
While employed by American Savings Bank, Ms. Lau was eligible to defer compensation under the American Savings Bank Select Deferred Compensation Plan, a contributory nonqualified deferred compensation plan. She elected to defer $100,000 each year from bonuses awarded to her in 2004 and 2005. These amounts are reflected in the "Aggregate Balance at Last FYE" column of the 2010 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table above and were previously reported as compensation to Ms. Lau in the 2004 and 2005 Summary Compensation Tables in the proxy statements for the applicable years. Since 2008 she no longer earns any compensation from American Savings Bank that could be deferred to the plan. The American Savings Bank Deferred Compensation Plan allows a select group of American Savings Bank management employees to defer up to 100% of current salary, bonus or commissions. The deferred amounts are credited with gains/losses of deemed investments chosen by the participant from a designated list of publicly traded mutual funds and other investment offerings. Earnings are not above-market or preferential and therefore are not included in the 2010 Summary Compensation Table above. Under the plan, a participant can receive an interim distribution of his or her account while actively employed, but no earlier than the first day of the fourth plan year following the effective date of the initial election to defer. A participant may also request a withdrawal of a certain portion of his or her account to the extent needed to satisfy an unforeseeable emergency, subject to approval by the Total Compensation Administrative Committee, which is composed of members of senior management of American Savings Bank. The distribution of accounts from the plan is triggered by disability, death or separation from service (including retirement). Upon disability or separation from service other than retirement, the entire account of the participant will be paid out in one lump sum, generally within 30 days according to the participant's distribution elections for each year of deferral. A participant's elections can provide for payment either in a lump sum or in substantially equal annual payments spread over a period not to exceed 15 years. Ms. Lau has elected to take distributions upon retirement in 15 annual payments with respect to her current balances.

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

        The table below shows the amount of potential payments to each named executive officer in the event of retirement, voluntary termination, termination for cause, termination without cause and a qualifying termination following a change in control, assuming termination occurred on December 31, 2010. The amounts listed below are estimates; actual amounts to be paid would depend on the actual date of termination and circumstances existing at that time.


2010 TERMINATION/CHANGE-IN-CONTROL PAYMENT TABLE

Name/
Benefit Plan or Program
  Retirement on
12/31/10
($) (1)
  Voluntary
Termination
on 12/31/10
($) (2)
  Termination
for Cause
on 12/31/10
($) (3)
  Termination
without
Cause on
12/31/10
($) (4)
  Qualifying
Termination
after
Change in
Control on
12/31/10
($) (5)
 

Constance H. Lau

                               

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (6)

                     

Long-Term Incentive Plan (7)

    1,252,099                  

Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (8)

    464,346             461,498      

Preferential Mortgage Loan Interest (9)

    168,753                  

Change-in-Control Agreement

                    5,341,338  
                       

TOTAL

    1,885,198             461,498     5,341,338  
                       

James A. Ajello

                               

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (6)

                     

Long-Term Incentive Plan (7)

                     

Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (8)

                     

Special Severance Payment (10)

                442,000      

Change-in-Control Agreement

                    2,477,091  
                       

TOTAL

                442,000     2,477,091  
                       

Chester A. Richardson

                               

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (6)

                     

Long-Term Incentive Plan (7)

                     

Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (8)

                76,099      

Change-in-Control Agreement

                    1,289,045  
                       

TOTAL

                76,099     1,289,045  
                       

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Name/
Benefit Plan or Program
  Retirement on
12/31/10
($) (1)
  Voluntary
Termination
on 12/31/10
($) (2)
  Termination
for Cause
on 12/31/10
($) (3)
  Termination
without
Cause on
12/31/10
($) (4)
  Qualifying
Termination
after
Change in
Control on
12/31/10
($) (5)
 

Richard M. Rosenblum

                               

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (6)

                     

Long-Term Incentive Plan (7)

                     

Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (8)

                     

Special Severance Payment (10)

                587,000      

Change-in-Control Agreement

                    2,491,646  
                       

TOTAL

                587,000     2,491,646  
                       

Richard F. Wacker

                               

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (6)

                     

Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (8)

                410,425     410,425  

Change-in-Control Agreement

                     
                       

TOTAL

                410,425     410,425  
                       

Mr. Schools received no benefits under his change-in-control agreement upon his departure from the Company in September 2010.


Note: All stock-based award amounts were valued using the 2010 year-end closing price of HEI Common Stock of $22.79 per share. Other benefits that are available to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis and perquisites aggregating less than $10,000 in value have not been listed.

(1)
Retirement Payments & Benefits.    Only Ms. Lau was eligible for early retirement as of December 31, 2010 and accordingly no amounts are shown in this column for any other named executive officer. Amounts in this column also do not include amounts payable to Ms. Lau under the 2010 executive incentive compensation plan or the 2008-2010 long term incentive plan or supplemental long-term incentive plan because those amounts would have vested without regard to retirement since December 31, 2010 was the end of the applicable performance periods. In addition to the amounts shown in this column, retired executives are entitled to receive their vested retirement plan benefits under all termination scenarios. See the 2010 Pension Benefits table above.

(2)
Voluntary Termination Payment & Benefits.    If a named executive officer voluntarily terminates employment, he or she could lose any annual or long-term incentives based upon the Compensation Committee's right to amend, suspend or terminate any incentive award or any portion of it at any time. Unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement, voluntary termination results in the forfeiture of the unvested portion of all awards of restricted stock, restricted shares and restricted stock units, whether made under the 1987 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (SOIP) (under which no new awards may be made) or under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (EIP), and participation in incentive plans. In the case of awards of nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights and related dividend equivalents, whether awarded under the SOIP or EIP, the executive has one year in which to exercise from the date of termination. The executive's participation in the change-in-control agreement would also end. Amounts in this column also do

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(3)
Termination for Cause Payments and Benefits.    If the executive is terminated for cause, he or she could lose any annual or long-term incentives based upon the Compensation Committee's right to amend, suspend or terminate any incentive award or any portion of it at any time. "Cause" generally means a violation of the HEI Corporate Code of Conduct or, for purposes of awards under the SOIP and EIP, has the meaning set forth in those Plans. Unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement, termination for cause results in the forfeiture of all vested but unexercised nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights and related dividend equivalents, the unvested portion of all awards of restricted stock, restricted shares and restricted stock units, whether awarded under the SOIP or EIP, and participation in incentive plans. The executive's participation in the change-in-control agreement would also end and the executive's benefit from the nonqualified retirement plans would be forfeited.

(4)
Termination without Cause Payments and Benefits.    If the executive is terminated without cause, he or she could lose any annual or long-term incentives based upon the Compensation Committee's right to amend, suspend or terminate any incentive award or any portion of it at any time. Unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement, termination without cause results in the pro-rata vesting of restricted stock awarded under the SOIP (based on service to date compared to original vesting period) and forfeiture of the unvested portion of all restricted stock units and restricted shares, whether awarded under the SOIP or EIP. In the case of nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights and related dividend equivalents, whether awarded under the SOIP or EIP, the executive has one year in which to exercise from the date of termination. Mr. Wacker's restricted shares will fully vest upon a termination without cause as provided under the terms of his employment agreement. As discussed in note 5 below, different benefits would be payable to the named executive officers if their termination without cause were to follow a change in control under the terms of their change-in-control agreements.

(5)
Change-in-Control Payments and Benefits.    Ms. Lau and Messrs. Ajello, Richardson, Rosenblum and Wacker have change-in-control agreements. No amount is shown in this column for Mr. Wacker, however, because he did not enter into a change-in-control agreement until 2011.

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(6)
Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.    Upon death, disability or retirement, executives continue to participate in the annual incentive compensation plan on a pro-rata basis if the executive has served a minimum of nine months during the annual performance period, with payment to be made at the end of the annual incentive plan cycle if the applicable performance goals are achieved, using the executive's annual base salary at the time of termination. In termination scenarios other than a termination following a change in control, death, disability or retirement, participants who terminate during the plan cycle forfeit any accrued annual incentive award. Annual incentive compensation payments in the event of a change in control are described in footnote 5 above and quantified as part of the Change-in-Control Agreement payment in the table above.

(7)
Long-Term Incentive Plan.    Upon death, disability or retirement, executives continue to participate in each on-going long-term incentive plan cycle on a pro-rata basis if the executive has served a minimum of twelve months during the three-year performance period, with payment to be made at the end of the three-year cycle if performance goals are achieved, using the executive's annual base salary at the time of termination. The amounts shown in this column are estimates at target range for goals achievable for all applicable plan years, prorated based upon service through December 31, 2010; actual payouts will depend upon performance achieved at the end of the plan cycle. In termination scenarios other than a change in control, participants who terminate during the plan cycle for reasons other than death, disability or retirement forfeit any accrued long-term incentive award. Long-term incentive compensation payments in the event of a change in control are described in footnote 5 above and quantified as part of the Change-in-Control Agreement payment in the table above.

(8)
Restricted Shares, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards.    For restricted share awards, unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement, termination without cause results in the forfeiture of the unvested portion of such awards and termination due to death or disability results in pro-rata vesting of restrictions based on lapse of time (based on service to date compared to the original vesting period). The effect of a change in control on restricted share awards is described

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(9)
Preferential Mortgage Loan Interest.    Upon retirement, the preferential interest rates for Ms. Lau continue until her loan matures and is paid off. The present value of her preferential rate mortgage loan for 2010 (calculated as the difference between the preferential rate and the market rate of interest at the time the loan was originated) is reflected in the "Retirement on 12/31/10" column of the table above. The present value is the total estimated annual preferential loan interest benefit assuming current market rates, discounted at 5.625% as of December 31, 2010. In termination scenarios other than retirement, the interest rate would reset to the market rate at the time the loan was originally funded or, if applicable, the market rate in effect at the later of the time when the loan was last refinanced or modified in interest rate or term.

(10)
Special Arrangements.    As part of their employment offers, Messrs. Ajello and Rosenblum have special severance agreements where in the event that their employment is terminated without cause on or before the third anniversary of their date of hire (January 26, 2009 in the case of Mr. Ajello and January 1, 2009 in the case of Mr. Rosenblum), they would be paid a declining portion of their annual base salary and any target bonus amount for the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. If their employment is terminated before their third anniversary of employment, they will receive 6 months of salary and any target annual bonus. Any limitations on the amount of severance under the HEI Severance Pay Plan would not apply. After their third year of employment, they will be eligible for severance under the standard terms of the Severance Pay Plan.

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Stock Ownership Information

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

        The table below shows the number of shares of HEI Common Stock beneficially owned as of February 8, 2011 (or such other date as indicated below) by (a) each person known by HEI to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding shares of HEI Common Stock, (b) each director who is a current director or served as a director during any part of 2010, each nominee for director and each named executive officer (as listed in the 2010 Summary Compensation Table above) and (c) all directors and executive officers as a group, based in part on information furnished by the respective shareholders. No HEI directors, executive officers or named executive officers own any shares of Preferred Stock of HEI's wholly owned subsidiary, Hawaiian Electric Company.


Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of HEI Common Stock


 
 
Name of Individual
or Group

  Sole Voting or
Investment
Power (1)

  Shared Voting or
Investment
Power (2)

  Other Beneficial
Ownership (3)

  Stock Options/
Restricted
Stock and RSUs (4)

  Total
  Percent of Class
 

 
 

Nonemployee directors

                                     

Don E. Carroll

    26,130                 26,130     *  

Shirley J. Daniel

    16,535                 16,535     *  

Thomas B. Fargo

    14,612                 14,612     *  

Richard W. Gushman, II (5)

    16,003                 16,003     *  

Victor H. Li

    5,851     12,097     558         18,505     *  

A. Maurice Myers

    39,481                 39,481     *  

Diane J. Plotts (5)

    18,680                 18,680     *  

James K. Scott

    22,864                 22,864     *  

Kelvin H. Taketa

    23,122                 23,122     *  

Barry K. Taniguchi

        23,727             23,727     *  

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

    33,449         4         33,453     *  

Nonemployee director nominees

                                     

Peggy Y. Fowler

        1,934             1,934     *  

Keith P. Russell

    1,000                 1,000     *  

Employee director and Named Executive Officer

                                     

Constance H. Lau

    226,065         7,617     139,860     372,112     *  

Other Named Executive Officers

                                     

James A. Ajello

    2,000                 2,000     *  

Chester A. Richardson

    14,366         3,036         17,402     *  

Richard M. Rosenblum

    700                 700     *  

Timothy K. Schools (5)

    15,338                 15,338     *  

Richard F. Wacker

    18,009                 18,009     *  

All directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons)

   
444,183
   
37,758
   
11,214
   
139,860
   
633,015
   
*
 

 
 

(1)
Includes the following shares held as of February 8, 2011 in the form of stock units in the HEI Common Stock fund pursuant to the HEI Retirement Savings Plan: approximately 83 shares for Ms. Lau and 245 shares for Mr. Richardson and 328 shares for all directors and executive officers as a group. The value of a unit is measured by the closing price of HEI Common Stock on the measurement date. Also includes the following unvested restricted shares over which the holders have sole voting but no investment power until the restrictions lapse: approximately 24,000 shares for Ms. Lau, 4,500 shares for Mr. Richardson, 18,009 shares for Mr. Wacker, and 46,509 shares for all directors and executive officers as a group.

(2)
Shares registered in name of the individual and spouse.

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(3)
Shares owned by spouse, children or other relatives sharing the home of the director or officer in which the director or officer disclaims personal interest.

(4)
Includes the number of shares that the individuals named above had a right to acquire as of or within 60 days after February 8, 2011 pursuant to (i) stock options and related dividend equivalent rights thereon and (ii) restricted stock units upon retirement. These shares are included for purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of each individual named above and all directors and executive officers as a group, but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person. This column does not include any shares subject to stock appreciation rights and the related dividend equivalent rights held by Ms. Lau. As of February 8, 2011, Ms. Lau held a total of 100,000 stock appreciation rights (granted in 2004 and 2005) and 1,831 dividend equivalent rights, which have vested as of February 8, 2011 or will vest within 60 days after February 8, 2011. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the holder will receive the number of shares of HEI Common Stock that has a total value equivalent to the difference between the exercise price of the stock appreciation right and the fair market value of HEI Common Stock on the date of exercise, which is defined in the grant agreement as the average of the high and low sales prices on the NYSE on that date. As of February 8, 2011, the fair market value of HEI Common Stock as defined in the grant agreement was $25.08 per share, which is lower than the exercise price of all of the stock appreciation rights held by Ms. Lau on February 8, 2011. Thus, as of February 8, 2011, no shares would be issuable under these stock appreciation rights. If the market value of HEI Common Stock increases to a sufficient level (above $26.02 in the case of stock appreciation rights granted in 2004 and above $26.18 in the case of stock appreciation rights granted in 2005), then shares could be issued under these stock appreciation rights within 60 days after February 8, 2011, but the number of shares that could be acquired in such event cannot be determined because it would depend on the fair market value of HEI Common Stock, as defined in the grant agreement, on the date of exercise. No nonemployee director or other current or former executive officers have received any stock appreciation rights.

(5)
Mr. Gushman resigned as of September 30, 2010, Ms. Plotts retired on May 11, 2010 and Mr. Schools resigned as of September 10, 2010.

*
As of February 8, 2011, the directors and executive officers of HEI as a group and each individual named above beneficially owned less than one percent of the record number of outstanding shares of HEI Common Stock as of that date and no shares were pledged as security.


Does HEI have stock ownership and retention guidelines for directors and officers and does it have a policy regarding hedging the risk of ownership?

        In 2003, the Board adopted stock ownership and retention guidelines for HEI's directors, executive officers and controller. Each officer and director subject to the guidelines has until January 1 of the year following the fifth anniversary of the later of (i) amendment to the guidelines affecting his or her specified level of stock ownership or (ii) his or her first becoming subject to the guidelines to achieve the specified level of stock ownership (compliance date). In 2009, the Board increased the specified level of stock ownership guidelines for the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer to five times (from two and a half times) her base salary. In December 2010, the Board increased the stock ownership guidelines for the HEI named executive officers (other than the HEI President and Chief Executive Officer) to two times (from one and one-half times) their respective base salaries. In addition, the Board increased the Chairman of the Board's stock ownership level from one times his annual cash retainer to two times. For other directors, stock ownership guideline targets are five times their annual Board and Board committee cash retainer. As of January 1, 2011, each director who has reached his or her initial compliance date had achieved his or her stock ownership target. Ms. Lau's initial compliance date is January 1, 2015; however, she has already reached the specified level of stock ownership for her position. The initial compliance date for Messrs. Ajello, Richardson, Rosenblum and Wacker is January 1, 2016.

        Prior to his or her initial compliance date, directors and officers subject to the stock ownership and retention guidelines must observe the following stock retention requirements: (i) HEI directors must retain all shares received under their annual stock retainer and (ii) HEI and subsidiary officers subject to the guidelines must retain all shares received in payout under the Long-Term Incentive Plan and 20% of shares received through the exercise of nonqualified stock options or stock appreciation rights

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or through the vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units. The Compensation Committee has the authority to approve temporary hardship exceptions to these retention requirements.

        The Company's Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors, officers and employees of HEI and its subsidiaries (as well as the spouses, minor children, adult family members sharing the same household and any other person for whom the director, officer or employee exercises substantial control over such persons' securities trading decisions) from trading in options, warrants, puts, calls or similar instruments on Company securities, making short sales in Company securities, holding Company securities in margin accounts or pledging Company securities.


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires HEI's executive officers, controller, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of HEI's equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such reporting persons are also required by SEC regulations to furnish HEI with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on its review of such forms provided to it, or written representations from some of those persons that no Forms 5 were required from such persons, HEI believes that each of the persons required to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with regard to HEI, including its executive officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of HEI's equity securities, complied with such reporting requirements for 2010, except for David M. Kostecki, HEI Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, who inadvertently failed to report one transaction in a timely fashion, and Constance H. Lau, HEI President and Chief Executive Officer, who inadvertently failed to report in a timely fashion one transaction wherein she became a beneficiary of a trust. These reports have now been filed.





Other Relationships and Related Person Transactions

Does HEI have a written related person transaction policy?

        The Board of Directors has adopted a written related person transaction policy that is specifically incorporated in HEI's Corporate Code of Conduct. The related person transaction policy is specific to transactions between the Company and related persons such as executive officers and directors, their immediate family members or entities with which they are affiliated in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Under the policy, the Board, acting through the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, will approve a related person transaction involving a director or an officer if the Board determines in advance that the transaction is not inconsistent with the best interests of HEI and its shareholders and is not in violation of HEI's Corporate Code of Conduct.


Are there any family relationships between any HEI executive officer, director and nominee for director?

        There are no family relationships between any HEI executive officer, director or nominee for director.


Are there any arrangements or understandings between any HEI director or director nominee and another person pursuant to which such director or director nominee was selected?

        There are no such arrangements or understandings.

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Are there any related person transactions with HEI or its subsidiaries?

        HEI's subsidiary, American Savings Bank, no longer extends preferential rate loans to its directors and employees. Effective June 30, 2006, preferential rate loans that had already been extended to certain American Savings Bank directors who are also HEI directors were grandfathered and no future preferential rate loans to directors are allowed. Effective July 1, 2009, preferential rate loans that had already been extended to employees were grandfathered and no future preferential rate loans to employees are allowed.

        The table below shows the grandfathered preferential rate loans to the directors and officers listed below. Each loan was made in accordance with Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board regarding loans to insiders. As of January 2011, all nonemployee directors had either paid off their loans or refinanced their loans at market rates.

Name
  Largest
Principal
Amount
Outstanding
During
2010
  Principal
Amount
Outstanding
on 2/8/11
  Amount
of
Principal
Paid
in 2010
  Amount
of
Interest
Paid
in 2010
  Type of
Transaction
  Average
Interest
Rate
Charged (1)
 

Shirley J. Daniel

    1,374,941     1,340,794     31,406     54,529   First Mortgage     4.000%  

Richard W. Gushman, II

    1,682,123         1,686,260     44,513   First Mortgage     3.250%  

Constance H. Lau

    726,046     701,330     24,662     18,817   First Mortgage     2.625%  

Constance H. Lau

    26,442         26,723     667   Second Mortgage     3.125%  

Diane J. Plotts

    395,802     279,391     115,471     8,051   First Mortgage     2.625%  

Timothy K. Schools

    2,908,000         2,908,000 (2)   126,130   First Mortgage     6.375%  

Jeffrey N. Watanabe

    482,544     462,646     18,175     17,817   First Mortgage     3.750%  

(1)
The first mortgage rate is based on American Savings Bank's policy for employees and directors at the time the loan was made using a formula of .50% premium above the cost of funds or .50% premium above the Applicable Federal Rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, whichever is greater, except for Mr. Schools. Mr. Schools' first mortgage rate was 1.00% below the market rate at the time the loan was made. The second mortgage rate uses the same formula with a premium of 1.00%.

(2)
Interest-only for 10 years. The loan was paid in full in August 2010.

        American Savings Bank has made other loans and extensions of credit to directors and executive officers, members of their immediate families and entities with which the foregoing are affiliated. These loans and extensions of credit were made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

        As described above under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Compensation Elements—What other benefits do named executive officers have?" and "Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table," in August 2010 American Saving Bank purchased the Honolulu home of Mr. Schools, who voluntarily resigned from his position as President of the bank in September 2010. American Savings Bank had agreed, for purposes of retention of Mr. Schools, who was instrumental to the success of the bank's performance improvement project, to purchase his home at his original purchase price of $3.635 million less normal selling costs borne by the seller on or before the earlier of June 30, 2011 or his termination as an employee of American Savings Bank, provided that Mr. Schools remained employed as President of American Savings Bank through yearend 2010 or such earlier date as the Company determined in its sole discretion. Upon his termination, the home was appraised at $3.376 million. Selling costs including broker's commission totaled $247,891 and Mr. Schools' recognized taxable income from the sale was $11,109.

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        Don E. Carroll, Thomas B. Fargo, Victor H. Li, A. Maurice Myers and Diane J. Plotts were members of the HEI Compensation Committee during 2010. Admiral Fargo served as Compensation Committee Chairperson.

        Ms. Plotts has had the benefit of the preferential rate loan described above. She retired as an HEI director at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.





Audit Committee Report

        The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of HEI's accounting functions and internal controls. It operates and acts under a written charter, which was adopted and approved by the committee and the HEI Board of Directors. The Board has determined that the three directors on the Audit Committee (Dr. Daniel and Messrs. Scott and Taniguchi) meet the independence and other qualification requirements of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and applicable securities laws. Dr. Daniel and Messrs. Scott and Taniguchi have been determined by the Board of Directors to be the "audit committee financial experts" on the Audit Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee has authority to retain its own independent legal counsel and accounting advisers at HEI's expense.

        The Audit Committee assists the Board with its financial and risk oversight responsibilities. Management has the primary responsibility for HEI's consolidated financial statements and reporting process, including the systems of internal control. The independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility for the independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited consolidated financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Auditors' Fees

        The following table sets forth the fees paid or payable to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2010, relating to the audit of the 2010 consolidated financial statements and fees for other professional services billed in 2010 with comparative amounts for 2009 that were paid to KMPG LLP (KPMG), HEI's former principal independent registered public accounting firm:

 
  2010   2009  
 
  Fees   %   Fees   %  

Audit fees (principally consisted of fees associated with the audit of HEI's, Hawaiian Electric Company's and American Savings Bank's consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 404), quarterly reviews, issuances of letters to underwriters, statutory audits, review of registration statements and issuance of consents)

  $ 1,750,000     81.1   $ 1,652,000     94.3  

Audit-related fees (principally consisted of fees associated with the audit of the financial statements of certain employee benefit plans)

    110,000     5.1     82,000     4.7  

Tax fees (tax compliance services with respect to federal and state taxes)

    298,000     13.8     17,713     1.0  

All other fees

                 
                   

  $ 2,158,000     100.0   $ 1,751,713     100.0  
                   

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        Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee preapproves all audit and permitted nonaudit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee may delegate this responsibility to one or more of its members, provided that such member or members report any such preapprovals to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. All of the amounts set forth in the table above were preapproved. In addition, the Audit Committee reviewed the professional fees billed by PwC and determined that the provision of nonaudit services was compatible with the maintenance of the auditor's independence.

Change in Registered Public Accounting Firm

        KPMG was HEI's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2009 and for several prior years, but on February 23, 2010 the HEI Audit Committee voted to dismiss KPMG, and to retain PwC as its independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2010. The Company informed KPMG of this decision and dismissed KPMG on February 24, 2010. PwC's reports on HEI's consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and KPMG's reports on HEI's consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The audit reports of PwC on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, and the audit reports of KPMG on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and through February 24, 2010, there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports for such periods. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and through February 24, 2010, there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of the SEC's Regulation S-K.

        During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and through February 26, 2010, the date of engagement of PwC, neither HEI nor any person on its behalf consulted with PwC with respect to (i) either the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on HEI's consolidated financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided by PwC to HEI that PwC concluded was an important factor considered by HEI in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of the SEC's Regulation S-K or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of the SEC's Regulation S-K.

Independence of Registered Public Accounting Firm and Recommendation to Include Financial Statements in Form 10-K

        In connection with its responsibilities, the Audit Committee held five regular meetings in 2010, one with KPMG LLP, HEI's former principal independent registered public accounting firm, and three with PwC, HEI's principal independent registered public accounting firm for 2010. In its meetings with management and PwC, the committee's review and discussion included the audited consolidated financial statements, audit plan and quality/adequacy of internal controls. The committee believes that management maintains effective systems of internal control that result in fairly presented consolidated financial statements. Discussions with PwC included the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards Vol. 1, AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, which incorporates information regarding the scope and results of the audit.

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        PwC provided the Audit Committee with written disclosures and a letter regarding its independence from management as required by professional standards and other regulatory requirements, including applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Based on its review of the disclosure statements and discussions with PwC, the Audit Committee satisfied itself as to the independence of the external auditor.

        Based on its reviews and discussions with management and PwC described above and review of PwC's representations and disclosures, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that HEI's audited consolidated financial statements be included in HEI's 2010 Form 10-K.

SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE
HEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Barry K. Taniguchi, Chairperson
Shirley J. Daniel
James K. Scott





Proposal No. 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) has served as HEI's independent registered public accounting firm since February 2010. On February 7, 2011, the Audit Committee selected PwC as HEI's independent registered public accounting firm for 2011, subject to shareholder ratification. The Board, upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, recommends the ratification of the appointment of PwC as the independent registered public accounting firm of HEI for fiscal year 2011 and thereafter until its successor is appointed. Representatives of PwC will be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

        THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND YOUR BOARD RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR HEI FOR 2011.





Other Information

How are proxies solicited and what is the cost?

        HEI will solicit proxies by mail, telephone or other means of communication and will bear the cost of such solicitation. We have engaged Phoenix Advisory Partners to assist in the distribution of proxy materials and solicitation of proxies (including by telephone) from shareholders at a cost of $7,500 plus reasonable expenses. We will also reimburse brokers, fiduciaries and custodians for their costs in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our Common Stock.


What is the deadline for submitting a proposal for next year's Annual Meeting?

        Shareholders who want to have a proposal included in the proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must notify the Corporate Secretary in writing. The proposal must be received by November 22, 2011.


How can business matters be brought before the Annual Meeting?

        Shareholders who wish to present business before the Annual Meeting must provide a written notice to the Corporate Secretary that is received no later than 60 days nor earlier than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding year's Annual Meeting.

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        To be timely for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, notice must be received by the Corporate Secretary no later than March 11, 2012 and no earlier than February 10, 2012. The notice must include, as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, (ii) the name and record address of the shareholder, (iii) the number of shares of HEI Common Stock that are owned by the shareholder, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by the shareholder and any material interest of the shareholder in such business and (v) a representation that the shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to bring such business before the meeting.


How can shareholders recommend or propose persons as nominees to serve on the Board?

        Shareholders may recommend any person to serve on the Board by writing to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of the Corporate Secretary, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 730, Honolulu, Hawaii 96808-0730. Recommendations must be received by November 22, 2011 for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The recommendation must include (a) a resume and other relevant biographical information regarding the person's skills and qualifications to serve on the Board, (b) the nominee's consent to serve as a director and (c) the number of shares of HEI Common Stock owned by the shareholder.

        Shareholders may propose persons as nominees to serve on the Board by providing a written notice to the Corporate Secretary that is received no later than March 11, 2012 and no earlier than February 10, 2012. The notice must include:

        A written consent of each proposed nominee to being a nominee and to serve as a director if elected must also accompany the notice.


What provisions has HEI made for "householding" and will it provide additional copies of proxy materials upon request?

        As permitted by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, HEI has adopted a procedure referred to as "householding," under which only one annual report to shareholders will be delivered to

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shareholders sharing the same address, unless contrary instructions are received. Householding reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household, the cost to HEI of preparing and mailing duplicate materials and the environmental burden of excess paper usage. Certain shareholder accounts at a householded address will continue to receive separate proxy statements and proxy cards, and we will also deliver promptly upon your written or oral request a separate copy of the annual report, proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability if you are a security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of the requested documents was delivered. Dividend payments and account statements are not affected. Householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you notify us that you wish to receive a separate annual report. You will be removed from the householding program within 30 days after receipt of your notice. If you wish to discontinue householding of the annual report to shareholders, you may notify us by calling us at (808) 532-5841 or toll free at (866) 672-5841 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time. You may also discontinue householding by writing to us at the following address: Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 730, Honolulu, Hawaii 96808-0730, or by e-mailing us at invest@hei.com.

        If you hold your shares in "street name," please contact your bank, broker or other holder of record to request information about householding.

*              *              *

        Please vote your proxy as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be counted at the Annual Meeting.

    Chester A. Richardson
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and
Chief Administrative Officer

March 21, 2011

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Appendix A

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
2011 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN

1.     Purposes of the Plan

        The purposes of this Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan (the "Plan") are to advance the interests of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and its shareholders by aligning the personal interests of members of the Board of Directors of the Company and members of the boards of directors of its principal subsidiaries who are not employees with the interests of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Plan provides participating nonemployee directors with incentives to maintain their status as directors and improve the Company's performance by increasing the level of Common Stock of the Company owned by such nonemployee directors, thereby assisting them in meeting the Company's stock ownership guidelines, through the issuance of Common Stock under the Plan as part of their compensation.

        Upon the effective date of the Plan, the Company's 1990 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, as last amended and restated on May 6, 2008 (the "Prior Plan"), shall terminate and no further shares of Common Stock of the Company shall thereafter be issued under the Prior Plan.

2.     Definitions

        When used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

        (a)   "Annual Meeting of Shareholders" means the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are elected.

        (b)   "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        (c)   "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or subcommittee thereof, or such other committee appointed from time to time by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, which Committee shall consist of two or more "nonemployee directors" as defined under Rule 16b-3(3)(i) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

        (d)   "Common Stock" means the common stock, without par value, of the Company.

        (e)   "Company" means Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., a Hawaii corporation, and any successor corporation.

        (f)    "Employee" means any officer or employee of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates (whether or not such subsidiary or affiliate participates in the Plan).

        (g)   "Fair Market Value" means, as of any given date: (i) the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on such date on the national securities and exchange on which the Company's equity securities are principally listed or traded, or, if on such date no trade was conducted, the most recent preceding date on which there was such a trade; (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock in such market; or (iii) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as otherwise determined by the Committee in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

        (h)   "Grant Date" shall be June 30 of each year except that (i) if June 30 falls on a day that is not a business day in Honolulu, Hawaii, then the Grant Date shall be the next preceding business day and (ii) the Grant Date for a person who first becomes a director after June 30 of a year and before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the next year shall be the date on which such person's service as a director commences. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (ii) does not apply to a person who serves as a

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director of the Company or a Participating Company but then also (or instead) is elected or appointed to serve in another director position.

        (i)    "Nonemployee Company Director" means any person who is elected or appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company and who is not an employee.

        (j)    "Nonemployee Participating Company Director" means any person who is elected or appointed to the Board of Directors of any one or more Participating Companies and who is not an Employee.

        (k)   "Participant" means any Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director.

        (l)    "Participating Company" means any direct or indirect subsidiary or affiliate of the Company whose participation in the Plan has been approved by the Board.

        (m)  "Plan" means this 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

        (n)   "Stock Payment" means a grant under the Plan of shares of Common Stock to a Nonemployee Company Director or a Nonemployee Participating Company Director rather than cash as compensation for services rendered as a director of the Company or a Participating Company, as provided in Section 6 hereof.

3.     Shares of Common Stock Subject to the Plan

        Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 below, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 300,000 shares. The Common Stock to be issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company or shares that may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise.

4.     Administration of the Plan

        (a)   The Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Company shall pay all costs of administration of the Plan.

        (b)   Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee has and may exercise such powers and authority of the Board as may be necessary or appropriate for the Committee to carry out its functions under the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall have full power and authority (i) to determine all questions of fact that may arise under the Plan, (ii) to interpret the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, and (iii) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including, without limitation, any rules which the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Company, each Participating Company and the Plan will be able to comply with all applicable provisions of any federal, state or local law, including securities laws and laws relating to the withholding of tax. All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee will be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties. Any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote at a meeting of the Committee (at which members may participate by telephone) or by the unanimous written consent of its members.

        (c)   Neither the Company, nor any Participating Company, nor any representatives, employees or agents of the Company or any Participating Company, nor any member of the Board or the Committee or any designee thereof will be liable for any damages resulting from any action or determination made by the Board or the Committee with respect to the Plan or any transaction arising under the Plan or any omission in connection with the Plan in the absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

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5.     Participation in the Plan

        (a)   All Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors shall participate in the Plan, subject to the conditions and limitations of the Plan, so long as they shall be a nonemployee director of the Company or a Participating Company on the Grant Date.

        (b)   Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors shall be eligible for Stock Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 6 of the Plan.

6.     Determination of Nonemployee Directors' Stock Payments

        (a)   Each Nonemployee Company Director and each Nonemployee Participating Company Director who serves in that capacity on the Grant Date shall receive, in addition to any annual retainer and other amounts that may be payable to such Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director, a Stock Payment; provided, however, that no Participant shall be entitled to receive more than one Stock Payment even if he or she serves as a director of both the Company and a Participating Company or more than one Participating Company and provided, further, that the Stock Payment for a new director whose Grant Date is determined pursuant to Section 2(h)(ii) shall be prorated based on a fraction in which the numerator is the number of days remaining between the date on which such Participant becomes a director and the date of the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the denominator is 365 days.

        (b)   Stock Payments may be designated in either dollar value or in a number of shares of Common Stock. The number of shares to be issued to each Participant as a Stock Payment if the Stock Payment is designated by dollar value shall be determined by dividing the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date into the applicable dollar value of the Stock Payment, provided that no fractional shares shall be issued (cash shall be paid in lieu thereof).

        (c)   For Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors serving in that capacity on June 30, 2011, the Stock Payment shall be designated in dollar value as follows: (i) for Nonemployee Company Directors, $75,000 and (ii) for Nonemployee Participating Company Directors, $40,000. For a Nonemployee Company Director who also serves as a Nonemployee Participating Company Director on June 30, 2011, the applicable dollar value of the Stock Payment will be $75,000.

        (d)   The amount of the Stock Payment, and whether it is expressed as a dollar value or in number of shares, may be changed in the discretion and upon recommendation of the Committee and approval by the Board, but shall not be changed more than once between any two Annual Meetings of Shareholders.

        (e)   No Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director shall be required to forfeit or otherwise return to the Company any shares of Common Stock issued to him or her as a Stock Payment pursuant to the Plan notwithstanding any change in status of such director which renders him or her ineligible to continue as a participant in the Plan after the Grant Date.

7.     Shareholder Rights

        (a)   Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors shall not be deemed for any purpose to be or have rights as shareholders of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock except as and when such shares are issued and then in any event not earlier than the Grant Date. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights for which the record date precedes the Grant Date.

        (b)   Subject to the provisions of Section 7(a) above, Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors will have all rights of a shareholder with respect to

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Common Stock once issued as a Stock Payment on the Grant Date, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto.

8.     Adjustment for Changes in Capitalization

        If the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other securities, through merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the property of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, distribution of assets or other distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other securities or other change in the corporate structure or shares of Common Stock, the maximum number of shares and/or the kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee. Any determination by the Committee as to any such adjustment will be final, binding, and conclusive. The maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan as a result of any such adjustment shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share.

9.     Continuation of Director or Other Status

        Nothing in the Plan or in any instrument executed pursuant to the Plan or any action taken pursuant to the Plan shall be construed as creating or constituting evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company or any other Participating Company, as the case may be, will retain a Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director as a director or in any other capacity for any period of time or at a particular retainer or other rate of compensation, as conferring upon any director any legal or other right to continue as a director or in any other capacity, or as limiting, interfering with or otherwise affecting any right of the Company or a Participating Company or their respective shareholders may have to terminate a director in his or her capacity as a director or otherwise at any time for any reason, with or without cause, and without regard to the effect that such termination might have upon him or her as a participant under the Plan.

10.   Compliance with Government Regulations

        Neither the Plan nor the Company shall be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan at any time unless and until all applicable requirements imposed by any federal and state securities and other laws, rules, and regulations, by any regulatory agencies or by any stock exchanges upon which the Common Stock may be listed have been fully met. As a condition precedent to any issuance of shares of Common Stock and delivery of notice of share ownership evidencing such shares pursuant to the Plan, the Board or the Committee may require a Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director to take any such action and to make any such covenants, agreements and representations as the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, in its discretion deems necessary or advisable to ensure compliance with such requirements. The Company may elect, but shall in no event be obligated, to register the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter amended, or to qualify or register such shares under any securities laws of any state upon their issuance under the Plan or at any time thereafter, or to take any other action in order to cause the issuance and delivery of such shares under the Plan or any subsequent offer, sale or other transfer of such shares to comply with any such law, regulation or requirement. Nonemployee Company Directors and Nonemployee Participating Company Directors are responsible for complying with all applicable federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations in connection with any offer, sale or other transfer by them of the shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan or any interest therein including, without limitation, compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (unless an exemption

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therefrom is available), or with the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated thereunder, if available, or any successor provisions.

11.   Nontransferability of Rights

        No Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director shall have the right to assign the right to receive any Stock Payment or any other right or interest under the Plan, contingent or otherwise, or to cause or permit any encumbrance, pledge or charge of any nature to be imposed on any such right to receive any Stock Payment (prior to the issuance of a stock certificate or notice of share ownership evidencing such Stock Payment, which the Company shall endeavor to cause to occur on the Grant Date or as soon as practicable thereafter).

12.   Amendment and Termination of Plan

        (a)   The Board will have the power in its discretion, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No such amendment will, without approval of the shareholders of the Company:

        (b)   No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan will, without the consent of the Nonemployee Company Director or Nonemployee Participating Company Director, alter, terminate, impair, or adversely affect any right or obligations under any Stock Payment previously granted under the Plan to such Participant, unless such amendment, suspension or termination is required by applicable law.

        (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, without further action by the shareholders of the Company, amend the Plan or modify Stock Payments under the Plan (i) in response to changes in securities or other laws, or rules, regulations or regulatory interpretations thereof, applicable to the Plan, or (ii) to comply with stock exchange rules or requirements.

13.   Governing Law

        The laws of the State of Hawaii shall govern and control the interpretation and application of the terms of the Plan.

14.   Effective Date and Duration of the Plan

        The Plan has been approved by the Board and will become effective upon approval by the Shareholders of the Company at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Unless previously terminated by the Board, the Plan will terminate on April 30, 2021.

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Appendix B

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC.

CATEGORICAL STANDARDS OF DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Amended as of December 13, 2010

        A director is not independent if:

        "Immediate family member" includes a person's spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such person's home.

        References to "the Company" means Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and includes subsidiaries of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. as is relevant to any determination under the independence standards set forth above.

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VOTE BY TELEPHONE Have your proxy card available when you call the Toll-Free number 1-888-693-8683 using a touch-tone telephone and follow the simple instructions presented to record your vote. VOTE BY INTERNET Have your proxy card available when you access the website www.cesvote.com and follow the simple instructions presented to record your vote. VOTE BY MAIL Please mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to: Corporate Election Services, PO Box 1150, Pittsburgh, PA 15230. Vote by Telephone Call Toll-Free using a touch-tone telephone: 1-888-693-8683 Vote by Internet Access the Website and cast your vote: www.cesvote.com Vote by Mail Return your proxy in the postage-paid envelope provided. Vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until May 9, 2011 11:59 P.M. EST. If you vote by telephone or Internet, please do not send your proxy by mail. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2011, AT 9:30 A.M., IN THE AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK TOWER, 8TH FLOOR, ROOM 805, 1001 BISHOP STREET, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813. The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Constance H. Lau, Chester A. Richardson and Jeffrey N. Watanabe and each of them the proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all the Common Stock of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 10, 2011 or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Date: Signature(s) Signature(s) (Please sign your name exactly as it appears on this proxy. Joint owners should each sign personally. Attorney, Executor, Administrator, Trustee or Guardian, should indicate full title. If address is incorrect, please give us the correct one.) Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing.

 


PROXY TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT If you do not vote by telephone or Internet, please sign and date this proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or otherwise to Corporate Election Services, PO Box 1150, Pittsburgh, PA 15230, so your shares may be represented at the Annual Meeting. If you vote by telephone or Internet, it is not necessary to return this proxy card. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC. PROXY The proxies named on the reverse side of this card are instructed to vote as indicated below. If no direction is indicated, said proxies will vote FOR all Nominees and FOR proposals 2, 4 and 5 and 1 YEAR in proposal 3. Said proxies are also authorized to vote in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all of the Nominees, FOR proposals 2, 4 and 5 and 1 YEAR in proposal 3. 1. Elect three Class III directors for a three-year term expiring at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Nominees: (1) Peggy Y. Fowler (2) Keith P. Russell (3) Barry K. Taniguchi FOR all nominees listed above WITHHOLD authority to vote (except as marked to the contrary below) for all nominees listed above To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name above. 2. Approve the 2011 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 3. Recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency of executive compensation votes 1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS ABSTAIN 4. Approve, by non-binding vote, the shareholder resolution approving HEI’s executive compensation FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 5. Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as HEI’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2011 FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Please check this box if you consent to access future Annual Reports and Proxy Statements via the Internet. Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing.