Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 25, 2004	Sep. 30, 2011 Standby letters of credit [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Performance and customs bonds [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Benefit plan withdrawal obligations [Member]		Feb. 28, 2010 Guarantee of obligations of joint venture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Long-term water lease request [Member]	May 31, 2010 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in East Maui streams [Member]	Sep. 25, 2008 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in East Maui streams [Member]	May 24, 2001 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in East Maui streams [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in West Maui streams [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in West Maui streams [Member]	Jun. 25, 2004 Petitions filed requesting IIFS in West Maui streams [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 EPA standards for controlling emissions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 EEOC matter [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent obligations, maximum exposure			$ 19	[1]	$ 31	[2]
Multiemployer plan withdrawal obligation							99	[3]
Letter of credit amount that enables qualification as self-insurer			8
Number of letters of credit			2
Letter of credit amount related to real estate business			11
U.S. customs bonds					13
Bonds related to real estate construction projects					17
Bonds related to transportation and other matters					1
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure									10
Principal balance of note held by joint venture									$ 9
Watershed lands in East Maui owned (in acres)										16,000
Number of water licenses held and extended as revocable permits										4
Additional watershed lands accessible by licenses (in acres)										30,000
Capacity of irrigation water supplied by additional watershed lands (in hundredths)										58.00%
Number of streams for which IIFS was requested													27			4
Number of petitions on which the Water Commission took action											19	8			2
Approximate percentage of irrigation water provided by the West Maui irrigation system (in hundredths)														15.00%
Number of boilers impacted by EPA standards																	3
Number of farms alleged complicit in illegal acts																		5
Number of organizations filed a petition to establish IIFS		2
Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Terms	At a hearing on October 26, 2011, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, but gave the EEOC 45 days from the date the judge issues the order to file an amended complaint.

[1] Represents letters of credit, of which, $8 million enables the Company to qualify as a self-insurer for state and federal workers' compensation liabilities. Additionally, the balance also includes two letters of credit totaling $11 million related to the Company's real estate projects.

[2] Consists of $13 million in U.S. customs bonds, $17 million in bonds related to real estate construction projects in Hawaii, and $1 million related to transportation and other matters.

[3] Represents the withdrawal liabilities as of the most recent valuation dates for multiemployer pension plans, in which Matson is a participant. Management has no present intention of withdrawing from, and does not anticipate the termination of, any of the aforementioned plans.