MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE, NET (Schedule of Debt by Property) (Details)																							1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 19, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 05, 2017 USD ($) item	Oct. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 13, 2017 USD ($) item	Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 14, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 06, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 16, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 17, 2017 USD ($) ft² Option	Dec. 30, 2016 USD ($) Option	Nov. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2016 USD ($) Option	Oct. 23, 2016 Option	Oct. 07, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 12, 2016 USD ($) Option	Feb. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2016 item	Dec. 20, 2015 Option	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) facility item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 27, 2017 USD ($) ft²	Jun. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 2,877,789,000
Unamortized underwriting fees																									(6,898,000)	$ (5,779,000)
Unamortized bond issuance costs																									(6,898,000)	(5,779,000)
Deferred Financing Costs																									(12,946,000)	(11,934,000)
Total																									2,857,945,000	2,690,747,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																													$ 200,000,000
Repayments of debt																									1,350,226,000	333,302,000	$ 103,808,000
Debt instrument, issuance at premium to par																													2.25%
Redemption price percentage of principal												100.00%
Outstanding principal balance of debt that is swapped to fixed rate through maturity																									428,300,000	$ 182,100,000
Loss on redemption of senior notes due 2021												$ 46,400,000													$ 46,410,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																									4.61%	4.71%
Net cash proceeds received from issuance																									$ 1,501,290,000	$ 535,505,000	$ 583,822,000
Interest rate swap derivative assets																									$ 4,470,000	4,136,000
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																									1.49%
Three Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																									1.61%
Prime Rate
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																									4.50%
Other Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 14,983,000	15,948,000
Other Financing Arrangements | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 15,000,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)												6.875%													6.875%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																										750,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued												$ 750,000,000
5.375% senior notes due March 15, 2025
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)												5.375%													5.375%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 1,000,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued												$ 800,000,000
Redemption price percentage of principal												35.00%
Redemption price percentage at which Notes can be redeemed												105.375%
10 - 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross													$ 94,500,000
Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral																									3,400,000,000
One Mall North
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option													2
Option to extend, term													1 year
Net worth required to be maintained													$ 14,500,000
Area of land | ft²													97,500
One Mall North | LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)													1.75%
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 239,764,000	255,438,000
Master Planned Communities | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.24%
Facility Amount																									$ 180,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 150,000,000	150,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount										$ 180,000,000
Maximum additional borrowing amount										$ 30,000,000
Extension period at borrower's option										1 year
Master Planned Communities | Revolving Credit Facility | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.75%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Bridgeland Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.76%
Facility Amount																									$ 65,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									65,000,000	65,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin | Special Improvement District Bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Bond obligation																									$ 13,900,000	7,700,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 84,000	123,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									7.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 390,000	440,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S132
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 912,000	1,268,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S151
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 3,763,000	4,159,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128C
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 4,283,000	4,600,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S159
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 139,000	2,389,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S812
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 15,193,000	27,459,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																									200,000,000
Option to extend, term																								1 year
Maximum facility amount at first extension option																								$ 175,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option																								$ 25,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Term Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																									100,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																									100,000,000
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 1,589,438,000	1,526,227,000
Operating Assets | Other
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																										236,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.69%
Facility Amount							$ 275,900,000																		$ 274,088,000
Outstanding balance							$ 311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									274,088,000	302,981,000
Repayments of debt									$ 30,000,000
Number of extension options | item							1
Option to extend, term							1 year
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Swap one
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance																									$ 100,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									2.68%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Swap two
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance																									$ 100,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									2.62%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Swap three
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance																									$ 50,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									2.65%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)							2.15%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Total																									$ 274,100,000
Maximum percent recourse																									35.00%
Maximum recourse upon completion of the project and achievement of debt service coverage ratio																									15.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions																									10.00%
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for reduction in maximum recourse																									1.15
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse																									1.25
Minimum average tenant sales per net rentable square foot to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse																									$ 500.00
Occupancy percentage																									90.00%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																									35.00%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 2,812,000	3,350,000
Operating Assets | Two Merriweather Columbia, MD
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.99%
Facility Amount																									$ 33,156,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 19,429,000
Operating Assets | 1701 Lake Robbins
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.81%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																										4,600,000
Repayments of debt											$ 4,600,000
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.14%
Facility Amount																									$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 117,417,000	105,647,000
Operating Assets | 10 - 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.49%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 20,000,000	20,000,000
Immediate advance on loan after modification of agreement																												$ 20,000,000
Area of real estate property acquired (in square foot) | ft²																												170,741
Operating Assets | The Westin at the woodlands
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.14%
Facility Amount																									$ 57,946,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 57,946,000	58,077,000
Operating Assets | 110 N Wacker
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.21%
Facility Amount																									$ 18,900,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 18,926,000	22,704,000
Repayments of debt		$ 18,900,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									2.96%
Interest rate swap derivative assets		$ 300,000
Operating Assets | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.24%
Facility Amount					$ 54,300,000																				$ 53,841,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									53,841,000	55,778,000
Option to extend, term					1 year
Operating Assets | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties | Construction Loan Payable | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 26,900,000
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																									50.00%
Operating Assets | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.84%
Facility Amount																									$ 65,455,000
Outstanding balance			$ 65,500,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 45,058,000	35,053,000
Number of extension options | item			2
Option to extend, term			1 year
Operating Assets | Three Hughes Landing | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)			2.60%
Operating Assets | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.84%
Facility Amount																									$ 14,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 11,470,000	9,979,000
Operating Assets | Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.99%
Facility Amount																									$ 37,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 31,245,000	29,461,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.74%
Facility Amount																									$ 65,500,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross														$ 70,000,000											$ 65,500,000	70,000,000							$ 85,000,000
Number of extension options | Option																						2
Option to extend, term																						1 year
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																						2.75%
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option														2
Option to extend, term														1 year
Annual principal payment														$ 15,000,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility | LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)														3.25%
Operating Assets | One Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.64%
Facility Amount																				$ 49,900,000					$ 49,929,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 42,332,000	23,588,000
Option to extend, term																				1 year
Operating Assets | One Merriweather | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																				2.15%
Operating Assets | HHC 242 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.09%
Facility Amount																									$ 6,658,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 6,243,000	3,708,000
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.33%
Outstanding balance																									$ 40,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									1.66%
Operating Assets | 20/25 Waterway Avenue
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 13,646,000	13,886,000
Operating Assets | Millennium Waterway Apartments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.75%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 55,095,000	55,584,000
Operating Assets | Two Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																		$ 33,200,000
Option to extend, term																		1 year
Operating Assets | Two Merriweather | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)																		2.50%
Operating Assets | Ward Village
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.82%
Outstanding balance																									$ 119,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 238,718,000	238,718,000
Number of extension options | Option																			2
Option to extend, term																			1 year
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																									1.14%
Operating Assets | Ward Village | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																			2.50%
Operating Assets | Ward Village | Interest rate swap contracts
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance																			$ 119,400,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																			3.64%
Undrawn and available borrowing capacity																									$ 0
Operating Assets | 9303 New Trails
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 12,003,000	12,378,000
Operating Assets | 4 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 35,151,000	36,249,000
Operating Assets | 3831 Technology Forest Drive
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 21,954,000	22,383,000
Operating Assets | Kewalo Harbor
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.24%
Facility Amount																									$ 11,562,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued								$ 11,600,000
Operating Assets | Kewalo Harbor | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)								2.75%
Operating Assets | Millennium Six Pines Apartments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.39%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 42,500,000	42,500,000
Operating Assets | 3 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.94%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 50,327,000	51,590,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross															$ 71,900,000										$ 69,440,000	68,874,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)															3.50%
Annual principal payment															$ 3,000,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge | Fannie Mae
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Debt refinanced															$ 69,400,000
Term of debt instrument															12 years
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)															4.50%
Interest Period															4 years
Amortization Period															30 years
Operating Assets | Constellation
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.07%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 24,200,000
Operating Assets | One Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 52,000,000	52,000,000
Operating Assets | Two Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.20%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 48,000,000	48,000,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 35,000,000	35,000,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																																$ 36,600,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																																3.50%
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.48%					4.48%
Facility Amount																														$ 23,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 25,000,000	22,188,000				$ 25,000,000
Operating Assets | HHC 2978 Self-Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.09%
Facility Amount																									$ 6,368,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 5,634,000	1,715,000
Operating Assets | HHC 2978 Self-Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item																					2
Option to extend, term																					1 year
Operating Assets | HHC 2978 Self-Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																					2.60%
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																$ 64,400,000
Maximum percent recourse																50.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions																25.00%
Debt yield to achieve the reduced maximum percentage recourse																11.00%
Time period of minimum level of tenant sales needed to achieve the reduced maximum percent recourse																12 years
Number of extension options | Option																1
Option to extend, term																1 year
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																									50.00%
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)																2.75%
Operating Assets | One Mall North
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.74%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 14,463,000
Operating Assets | Constellation
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																															4.07%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																															$ 24,200,000
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia and One mall north Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									3.33%
Facility Amount																									$ 114,500,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 80,000,000	80,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																												$ 94,500,000
Operating Assets | One mall north Building,10-60 and 70 Columbia corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																												$ 114,500,000
Number of notes in master facility | item																									3
Number of master facilities | facility																									1
Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 33,604,000	160,847,000
Strategic Developments | Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued						$ 64,600,000
Strategic Developments | Summerlin | Wall Street Journal Prime
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)						0.40%
Strategic Developments | Aristocrat
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.90%
Facility Amount																									$ 31,118,000
Strategic Developments | Two Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.90%
Facility Amount																									$ 33,432,000
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									8.24%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																										$ 160,847,000
Repayments of debt				$ 195,300,000
Strategic Developments | Ke Kilohana
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.74%
Facility Amount																									$ 142,656,000
Option to extend, term																	1 year
Strategic Developments | Ke Kilohana | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	3.25%
Strategic Developments | Ae'o
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.49%
Facility Amount																									$ 230,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									$ 33,603,000
Number of extension options | Option																	2
Option to extend, term																	1 year
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	4.00%
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | Floor
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	4.50%
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | Interest Rate Cap
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	2.50%
Strategic Developments | 100 Fellowship Drive
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																									2.99%
Facility Amount																							$ 51,400,000		$ 51,426,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									1,000
Strategic Developments | 100 Fellowship Drive | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																							1.50%
Strategic Developments | Lake Woodlands Crossing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued	$ 15,500,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	1.80%
Maximum percent recourse	50.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions	15.00%
Percentage leased to achieve reduced recourse percentage upon completion	90.00%
Corporate
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Loss on redemption of senior notes due 2021																									$ 46,410,000