Description of Business (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Description of Business [Abstract]
Number of share of A&B common stock received			1
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments			3
Number of industries			2
Separation [Abstract]
Amount contributed by the Holdings company			$ 159.3
Separation cost	4.4	0	6.1	0
Incremental share-based compensation cost			0.8
Expected cash separation costs			14
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of debt agreement (in years)			3 years
A&B Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount under credit agreement	260		260
Holdings Credit Agreement, First [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount under credit agreement	230		230
Standby and Commercial Letters of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount under credit agreement	100		100
Swing Line Loans [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount under credit agreement	50		50
First Hawaiian Bank [Member] | A&B Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expiration date			Jun. 30, 2017
First Hawaiian Bank [Member] | A&B Senior Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of years of unsecured commitment (in years)			5 years
Uncommitted increase option			90
Commitment fee percentage, minimum (in hundredths)	0.15%		0.15%
Commitment fee percentage, maximum (in hundredths)	0.35%		0.35%
Letter of credit fee percentage, minimum (in hundredths)	1.50%		1.50%
Letter of credit fee percentage, maximum (in hundredths)	2.50%		2.50%
Basis spread on variable rate, minimum (in hundredths)	1.50%		1.50%
Basis spread on variable rate, maximum (in hundredths)	2.50%		2.50%
Expected basis spread on variable rate, minimum (in hundredths)	1.70%		1.70%
Expected basis spread on variable rate, maximum (in hundredths)	1.90%		1.90%
Maturity period, start (in days)			7 days
Maturity period, end (in months)			6 months
First Hawaiian Bank [Member] | Swing Line Loans [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity period (in days)			10 days
A&B Note Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate amount of debt that can be issued	300		300
Amount of note under debt agreement	207		207
Minimum consolidated shareholders equity	612		612
Percentage of net income for each quarter by which the minimum consolidated shareholders' equity increases each quarter (in hundredths)			25.00%
Minimum ratio of adjusted earnings to fixed charges			1.50 to 1.00
Maximum ratio of debt to total adjusted asset value			0.50 to 1.00
Minimum ratio of unencumbered income producing assets value to unsecured debt			1.75 to 1.00
Maximum percentage of aggregate principal amount of priority debt over total adjusted asset value (in hundredths)			20.00%
Private Shelf Agreement, April 25, 2001 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate amount of debt that can be issued	50		50
Private Shelf Agreement, April 19, 2006 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum aggregate amount of debt that can be issued	$ 400		$ 400
Real Estate Industry [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments			2
Agribusiness Industry [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments			1