Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Aug. 05, 2011
Renewal of Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Date of subsequent event	Aug. 05, 2011
Revolving credit facilities aggregate commitment	$ 325	$ 355
Expiration date (maturity date) of credit facilities	July 2016
Renewal of Revolving Credit Facilities [Member] | Alexander & Baldwin (Parent) [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revolving credit facilities aggregate commitment		230
Renewal of Revolving Credit Facilities [Member] | Matson (Subsidiary) [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revolving credit facilities aggregate commitment		125
Termination of Revolving Credit Facilities [Member] | Matson (Subsidiary) [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Date of subsequent event	Aug. 05, 2011
Senior secured reducing revolving credit facility commencement date	June 28, 2005
Expiration date (maturity date) of credit facilities	June 28, 2015
Available capacity under the senior secured reducing credit facility at termination	52.5
Termination of Transportation Services [Member] | Matson (Subsidiary) [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Date of subsequent event	Aug. 08, 2011
Effective date of termination of CLX2 service	August 21, 2011
Number of vessels currently chartered for the CLX2 service	5
Number of vessels to terminate their charters	3
Time period when charters will be terminated	third quarter of 2011
Number of vessels to be sub-chartered under their charter obligations	2
Year sub-charter charter obligations terminate	2012
Number of offices in China to close due to CLX2 termination	1
Exit costs expected to be recognized after tax, minimum	20
Exit costs expected to be recognized after tax, maximum	$ 25
Period over which container lease obligations are expected to be recognized, minimum (in months)	12M
Period over which container lease obligations are expected to be recognized, maximum (in months)	18M