SEGMENTS - Assets by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	$ 5,248,776,000us-gaap_Assets	$ 5,119,931,000us-gaap_Assets
General Growth Properties [Member]
Additional information
Proceeds From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable	138,000,000
Strategic Developments [Member]
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	120,100,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| ONE AlaMoana [Member]
Additional information
Cash distribution from the investment in ONE Ala Moana	8,900,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| Ward Centers [Member]
Additional information
Deposits collected on the sale of condominium units	9,600,000
New developments in progress	34,100,000
Use of buyer deposit to reimburse for development costs	21,600,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	17,600,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| One Lakes Edge [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	10,700,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| Waterway Square Hotel [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	14,600,000
Strategic Developments [Member] \| Three Hughes Landing [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	17,300,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	4,948,461,000	4,691,289,000
Operating Segments [Member] \| Master Planned Communities [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	1,920,953,000	1,877,043,000
Operating Segments [Member] \| Operating Assets [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	2,027,494,000	1,934,350,000
Operating Segments [Member] \| Operating Assets [Member] \| Hughes Landing Retail [Member]
Additional information
Transfer of property	46,200,000
Operating Segments [Member] \| Strategic Developments [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	1,000,014,000	879,896,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	300,315,000	428,642,000
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	$ 128,300,000

Represents the amount of collection of deposits on the sale of condominium units.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents information pertaining to increase (decrease) during the reporting period in transfer of property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of developments in progress during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of increase (decrease) in assets of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the cash inflow associated with the settlement of tax indemnity receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents information pertaining to increase(decrease) during the reporting period due to cash distribution from the investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents information pertaining to increase(decrease) during the reporting period due to use of buyer deposit to reimburse for development costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

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