PARENT COMPANY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION, Debt and Dividends (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	$ 559	$ 522
Long-term debt	507	386
Long-term Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Due in 2012	52
Due in 2013	45
Due in 2014	54
Due in 2015	45
Due in 2016	206
Due after 2016	157
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Expiration date of facility	August 2016
Interest rate description	London Interbank Offered Rate “LIBOR” plus a margin based on a ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization pricing grid
Covenant terms	maintenance of minimum shareholders' equity levels, minimum unencumbered property investment values, and a maximum ratio of debt to earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization and taxes
Total remaining capacity available for borrowing	283
Revolving Credit Loans [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	173	108
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)	1.29%	0.64%
Long-term Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Due in 2016	161
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Number of commercial banks	7
Maximum borrowing capacity	355
Expiration date of facility	August 2016
Interest rate description	London Interbank Offered Rate “LIBOR” plus a margin based on a ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization pricing grid
Covenant terms	maintenance of minimum shareholders' equity levels, minimum unencumbered property investment values, and a maximum ratio of debt to earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization and taxes
Outstanding letters of credit	19
Total remaining capacity available for borrowing	163
Term Loan 6.90% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	100	100
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.90%	6.90%
Term Loan 5.53% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	42	50
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.53%	5.53%
Term Loan 5.55% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	50	50
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.55%	5.55%
Term Loan 5.56% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	25	25
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.56%	5.56%
Term Loan 4.10% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	4	12
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.10%	4.10%
Term Loan 6.20% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	10	11
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.20%	6.20%
Description of collateral	secured by Deere Valley Center	secured by Deere Valley Center
Term Loan 5.50% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	6	6
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.50%	5.50%
Description of collateral	secured by Little Cottonwood Center	secured by Little Cottonwood Center
Prudential facility [Member]
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Term of facility (in years)	3Y
Maximum borrowing capacity	400
Expiration date of facility	April 19, 2012
Interest rate description	borrowings under the shelf facility bear interest at rates that are determined at the time of the borrowing
Covenant terms	restrictive covenants that are substantially the same as the covenants contained in the revolving senior credit facilities
Total remaining capacity available for borrowing	120
A&B (Parent Company) [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	342	338
Less current portion	(34)	(108)
Long-term debt	308	230
Long-term Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Due in 2012	34
Due in 2013	26
Due in 2014	39
Due in 2015	33
Due in 2016	140
Due after 2016	70
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Secured term debt [Abstract]
Ownership percentage of Phoenix office building (in hundredths)	25.00%
Number of subsidiaries that own the property jointly and severally	3
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Revolving Credit Loans [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	113	93
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)	1.24%	0.57%
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity	230
Expiration date of facility	August 2016
Interest rate description	London Interbank Offered Rate “LIBOR” plus a margin based on a ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization pricing grid
Covenant terms	maintenance of minimum shareholders' equity levels, minimum unencumbered property investment values, and a maximum ratio of total debt to earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization, and taxes
Outstanding letters of credit	11
Total remaining capacity available for borrowing	106
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 6.90% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	100	100
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.90%	6.90%
Maturity date	2020	2020
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 5.53% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	42	50
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.53%	5.53%
Maturity date	2016	2016
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 5.55% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	50	50
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.55%	5.55%
Maturity date	2017	2017
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 5.56% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	25	25
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.56%	5.56%
Maturity date	2016	2016
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 4.10% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	4	12
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.10%	4.10%
Maturity date	2012	2012
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 6.20% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	2	2
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.20%	6.20%
Maturity date	2013	2013
Description of collateral	secured by Deere Valley Center	secured by Deere Valley Center
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Term Loan 5.50% [Member]
Long-term debt [Abstract]
Total debt	6	6
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.50%	5.50%
Maturity date	2014	2014
Description of collateral	secured by Little Cottonwood Center	secured by Little Cottonwood Center
A&B (Parent Company) [Member] | Prudential facility [Member]
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Term of facility (in years)	3Y
Maximum borrowing capacity	400
Expiration date of facility	April 19, 2012
Interest rate description	borrowings under the shelf facility bear interest at rates that are determined at the time of the borrowing
Total remaining capacity available for borrowing	120
Matson (Subsidiary) [Member]
Dividends from Subsidiaries [Abstract]
Cash dividends received	60	45	60
Matson (Subsidiary) [Member] | Revolving Credit Loans [Member]
Revolving credit facilities [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 125