<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE
30, 2000 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000046207
<NAME> HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,963,850
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 204,279
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 13,104
<OTHER-ASSETS> 145,016
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,326,249
<COMMON> 85,387
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 295,578
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 441,199
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 822,164
100,000
34,293
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 656,497
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 103,419
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 609,876
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,326,249
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 594,904
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 30,394
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 493,307
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 523,701
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 71,203
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 4,310
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 75,513
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,234
<NET-INCOME> 48,279
540
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 47,739
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 31,746
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 41,872
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 86,474
<EPS-BASIC> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0
</TABLE>
