Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Reports 2003 Yearend And Fourth Quarter Earnings

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE) today reported 2003 income from continuing operations of $118.0 million, or $3.16 per share, compared with $118.2 million, or $3.26 per share in 2002.

"The Company performed well in 2003," said Robert F. Clarke, HEI chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Net income for 2003 held steady compared with 2002 although the Company was faced with significant earnings challenges," said Clarke. "At the utility, increased kilowatthour sales helped offset some of the impact of a $23.9 million increase in its retirement benefits expenses." On an after-tax basis, the year-over-year increase in retirement benefits expenses at the utility amounted to $14.6 million and for the entire Company it amounted to $16.4 million. "At the bank, earnings matched 2002's record earnings despite margin compression which squeezed bank net interest income by $3.8 million." Margin compression resulted from the decline in asset yields from high refinancing volumes and the inability of the bank to reduce its cost of funds at the same rate. "The holding and other companies reduced their net loss from continuing operations by $11.1 million as interest costs were lower, lawsuits were settled and there were no investment writedowns," added Clarke.

Electric utility net income was $78.9 million in 2003 versus $90.2 million in 2002. "Warmer weather and increases in usage and the number of residential customers contributed to kilowatthour sales growth of 2.4% in 2003," said Clarke. As the utility focused on capital expenditures to ensure reliability, maintenance expenses were down $1.9 million in 2003 compared with 2002. More than offsetting kilowatthour sales increases and decreased maintenance expenses were year-over-year increases in gross retirement benefits expenses of $23.9 million ($14.6 million, net), an increase in depreciation of $5.1 million and $3.1 million of charges related to a settlement reached in December 2003, relating to the Keahole expansion project on the island of Hawaii.

Bank net income of $56.3 million for 2003 matched 2002's record earnings of $56.2 million despite margin compression, which started to pressure earnings beginning in September 2002 and continued throughout most of 2003. As a result of margin compression, the interest rate spread was 16 basis points lower at 3.08% in 2003 versus 3.24% in 2002. In the first half of 2003, the bank refinanced certain Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances to lower interest costs paid and lengthen maturities of outstanding advances, resulting in lower interest expense of $4.6 million for the year.

Loan delinquencies and charge-offs during 2003 were lower, which translated into a $6.7 million lower provision for loan losses compared with 2002. "Asset quality improved across our portfolio in large part due to the strong Hawaii real estate market and strengthening Hawaii economy," said Clarke. Noninterest income was also higher as the bank sold securities at a $4.1 million gain versus a $0.6 million loss in 2002.

The bank's general and administrative expenses were $8.4 million higher in 2003 due to increased costs of transforming from a traditional thrift to a full-service community bank, including hiring and training personnel in growing lines of business and increased retirement benefits expenses. The bank's efficiency ratio--the cost of earning $1 of revenue--for 2003 was 61% compared with 58% for 2002.

The holding and other companies' net loss was $17.1 million in 2003 versus $28.2 million in 2002. The net loss decreased due to lower interest costs, settlement of lawsuits and no investment writedowns.

Consolidated net income for the fourth quarter was $37.4 million, or $0.99 per share compared with $26.4 million, or $0.72 per share for the fourth quarter of 2002.

Electric utility net income for the fourth quarter was $22.3 million compared with $20.4 million for the same quarter of 2002. Kilowatthour sales were 3.2% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2002, driven up by warmer weather and increases in usage and number of residential customers. Maintenance costs were $4.0 million lower quarter-over-quarter due to the timing and scope of generating unit overhauls compared to 2002, and the utility's focus on capital expenditures to ensure reliability. Partially offsetting these positives were $3.6 million higher net retirement benefits expenses and $1.3 million higher depreciation expenses in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared with the same quarter of 2002. In addition, the utility recorded two items in the fourth quarter of 2003 that it had not recorded in the fourth quarter of 2002: the previously mentioned $3.1 million Keahole settlement charge and a reduction of a previously recorded charge (third quarter 2003) for a notice of violation from $1.6 million to $0.8 million (not tax deductible) based on a conditional settlement reached with the State of Hawaii. Further information about these settlements is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bank net income for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $14.0 million versus $13.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2002. Net interest income was up $1.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2003 as compared with the same quarter of 2002. In addition, the provision for loan losses was $1.5 million lower in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with the fourth quarter of 2002, reflecting lower delinquencies and charge-offs in the bank's loan portfolio. These positives were offset by a decrease in other income.

The holding and other companies' net income was $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 versus a net loss of $7.4 million in same quarter of 2002, primarily due to lower interest costs, settlement of lawsuits and no investment writedowns.

HEI strives to provide value to its shareholders, its customers and the Hawaii community through a unique combination of operating companies - a utility and a bank. HEI provides electric utility services to 95% of Hawaii's residents and a wide array of banking services to consumers and businesses through the state's third largest bank.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain "forward-looking statements," which include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and usually include words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, predicts, estimates or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, expenses, earnings or losses or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects and possible future actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about HEI and its subsidiaries, the performance of the industries in which they do business and economic and market factors, among other things. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

Forward-looking statements in this release should be read in conjunction with the "Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors" discussion (which is incorporated by reference herein) set forth on page v of HEI's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and in HEI's future periodic reports that discuss important factors that could cause HEI's results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)


                          Three months ended         Years ended
                              December 31,           December 31,
                          ------------------- -----------------------
(in thousands, except per
share amounts)               2003      2002        2003        2002
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
Electric utility          $353,994  $337,533  $1,396,685  $1,257,176
Bank                        89,745    98,622     371,320     399,255
Other                       10,482      (452)     13,311      (2,730)
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                           454,221   435,703   1,781,316   1,653,701
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Expenses
 Electric utility           307,625   292,723   1,220,120   1,062,220
Bank                        66,893    76,845     278,565     306,372
Other                        4,912     6,670      19,064      18,676
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                           379,430   376,238   1,517,749   1,387,268
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Operating income (loss)
Electric utility            46,369    44,810     176,565     194,956
Bank                        22,852    21,777      92,755      92,883
Other                        5,570    (7,122)     (5,753)    (21,406)
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                            74,791    59,465     263,567     266,433
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Interest expense-other
than bank                 (16,118)  (17,674)    (69,292)    (72,292)
Allowance for borrowed
funds used during
construction                  529       463       1,914       1,855
Preferred stock dividends
of subsidiaries              (502)     (502)     (2,006)     (2,006)
Preferred securities
distributions of trust
subsidiaries               (4,009)   (4,009)    (16,035)    (16,035)
Allowance for equity
funds used during
construction                1,192       977       4,267       3,954
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income from continuing
operations before income
taxes                      55,883    38,720     182,415     181,909
Income taxes                18,444    12,345      64,367      63,692
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income from continuing
operations                 37,439    26,375     118,048     118,217
Loss from discontinued
operations, net of
income taxes                    -         -      (3,870)          -
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Net income                 $37,439   $26,375    $114,178    $118,217
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========
Per common share
Basic earnings (loss)
  Continuing operations     $0.99     $0.72       $3.16       $3.26
  Discontinued operations       -         -       (0.10)          -
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                             $0.99     $0.72       $3.06       $3.26
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========
Diluted earnings (loss)
  Continuing operations      $0.99     $0.72       $3.15       $3.24
  Discontinued operations        -         -       (0.10)          -
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                             $0.99     $0.72       $3.05       $3.24
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========
            Dividends        $0.62     $0.62       $2.48       $2.48
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========
 Weighted-average number
of common shares
outstanding                37,771    36,658      37,348      36,278
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========
Adjusted weighted-average
shares                     37,936    36,869      37,487      36,477
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========

Income (loss) from
continuing operations by
segment
  Electric utility         $22,339   $20,386     $78,911     $90,205
  Bank                      13,984    13,410      56,261      56,225
  Other                      1,116    (7,421)    (17,124)    (28,213)
                          --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income from continuing
operations                $37,439   $26,375    $118,048    $118,217
                          ========= ========= =========== ===========

This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and the notes thereto incorporated by reference
in HEI's Annual Reports on SEC Form 10-K for the years ended December
31, 2002 and 2003 (when filed) and the consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto in HEI's Quarterly Reports on SEC
Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003 and
September 30, 2003.


Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO) and  Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)


                            Three months ended        Years ended
                              December 31,            December 31,
                           -------------------   ---------------------
(in thousands)                 2003      2002        2003        2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating revenues         $353,257  $336,527  $1,393,038  $1,252,929
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Operating expenses
Fuel oil                     94,257    91,694     388,560     310,595
Purchased power              94,915    85,711     368,076     326,455
Other operation              40,927    36,337     155,531     131,910
Maintenance                  16,838    20,814      64,621      66,541
Depreciation                 27,690    26,361     110,560     105,424
Taxes, other than income
taxes                       33,154    31,349     130,677     120,118
Income taxes                 13,310    12,619      50,175      56,729
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                            321,091   304,885   1,268,200   1,117,772
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Operating income             32,166    31,642     124,838     135,157
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
 Other income
Allowance for equity funds
used during construction     1,192       977       4,267       3,954
Other, net                    1,156       706       1,903       3,141
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                              2,348     1,683       6,170       7,095
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income before interest and
other charges               34,514    33,325     131,008     142,252
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Interest and other charges
Interest on long-term debt    9,965    10,290      40,698      40,720
Amortization of net bond
premium and expense            511       509       2,131       2,014
Preferred securities
distributions of trust
subsidiaries                 1,919     1,919       7,675       7,675
Other interest charges         (190)      185       1,512       1,498
Allowance for borrowed
funds used during
construction                  (529)     (463)     (1,914)     (1,855)
Preferred stock dividends
of subsidiaries                229       229         915         915
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                             11,905    12,669      51,017      50,967
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Income before preferred
stock dividends of HECO     22,609    20,656      79,991      91,285
Preferred stock dividends
of HECO                        270       270       1,080       1,080
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Net income for common
stock                      $22,339   $20,386     $78,911     $90,205
                           ========= ========= =========== ===========

OTHER ELECTRIC UTILITY
INFORMATION
Kilowatthour sales
(millions)                   2,506     2,427       9,775       9,544
Cooling degree days (Oahu)    1,260     1,187       5,010       4,798
Average fuel cost per
barrel                      $34.72    $33.73      $36.23      $29.10


American Savings Bank, F.S.B. and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)


                                Three months ended     Years ended
                                   December 31,        December 31,
                                 -----------------  ------------------
(in thousands)                      2003     2002      2003      2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Interest and dividend income
Interest and fees on loans       $48,393  $50,782  $198,948  $203,082
Interest on mortgage-related
securities                       27,320   31,618   107,496   135,252
Interest and dividends on
investment securities             1,648    1,917     6,384     7,896
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                  77,361   84,317   312,828   346,230
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Interest expense
Interest on deposit liabilities   12,626   16,300    53,808    73,631
Interest on Federal Home Loan
Bank advances                    11,213   15,281    48,280    58,608
Interest on securities sold under
repurchase agreements             5,177    5,387    21,236    20,643
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                  29,016   36,968   123,324   152,882
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Net interest income               48,345   47,349   189,504   193,348
Provision for loan losses            300    1,750     3,075     9,750
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses        48,045   45,599   186,429   183,598
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Other income
Fees from other financial
services                          4,853    5,873    22,817    21,254
Fee income on deposit
liabilities                       4,714    4,017    16,971    15,734
Fee income on other financial
products                          2,260    2,416     9,920    10,063
Fee income on loans serviced for
others, net                        (353)     205       155      (164)
Gain (loss) on sale of
securities                            -        -     4,085      (640)
Other income                         910    1,794     4,544     6,778
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                  12,384   14,305    58,492    53,025
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
General and administrative
expenses
Compensation and employee
benefits                         16,094   15,548    65,805    59,594
Occupancy and equipment            7,859    7,699    30,546    30,086
Data processing                    2,712    2,939    10,668    11,167
Professional services              1,496    3,626     8,670     9,376
Office supplies, printing and
postage                           1,199    1,241     4,850     4,746
Communication                      1,054    1,004     4,072     3,465
Marketing                          1,387      955     3,973     3,967
Other                              5,776    5,115    23,582    21,339
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                  37,577   38,127   152,166   143,740
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Income before minority interests
 and income taxes                 22,852   21,777    92,755    92,883
Minority interests                    10       42       124       173
Income taxes                       7,505    6,972    30,959    31,074
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Income before preferred stock
dividends                        15,337   14,763    61,672    61,636
Preferred stock dividends          1,353    1,353     5,411     5,411
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Net income for common stock      $13,984  $13,410   $56,261   $56,225
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========

Interest rate spread (%)            3.16     3.12      3.08      3.24
 

CONTACT: Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. Suzy P. Hollinger, 808-543-7385 (Manager, Investor Relations) shollinger£hei.com