MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE, NET (Narrative) (Details)																									1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 20, 2018 extention_option	Dec. 17, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 05, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2018 USD ($) extention_option	Oct. 11, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 21, 2018	Sep. 18, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 11, 2018 USD ($) extention_option	Jul. 27, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 20, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 08, 2018 USD ($) extention_option	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) extention_option	Apr. 13, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 26, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 19, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 13, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 16, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 23, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) repayment	May 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 04, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 19, 2017 USD ($)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Weighted average interest rate																									5.06%		5.06%	4.61%
Carrying amount																									$ 3,215,211,000		$ 3,215,211,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																																		$ 200,000,000
Repayment of debt																											838,462,000	1,350,226,000	$ 333,302,000
Unamortized bond issuance costs																									6,096,000		6,096,000	6,898,000
Loss on redemption of senior notes due 2021																							$ (46,400,000)				0	46,410,000	$ 0
Naming rights and marketing agreement, term											20 years
Fair value derivative liabilities																									16,517,000		$ 16,517,000	5,961,000
Issuance at premium to par																																		2.25%
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed																							100.00%
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																											2.5027%
Unsecured 5.375% Senior Notes
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.375%		5.375%		5.375%
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																							$ 800,000,000
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed																							35.00%
Redemption price, percentage																							105.38%
Other Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 12,409,000		$ 12,409,000	14,983,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.33%		4.33%
$700 Million Loan Maturity September 2023
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued								$ 700,000,000.0
Option to increase borrowing capacity								$ 50,000,000.0
Debt instrument covered, percent							100.00%
Fixed interest rate							4.61%
Senior Notes6.875 Percent Due2021
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.875%
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																							$ 750,000,000
Recourse Debt | Other Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 12,400,000		$ 12,400,000
Recourse percentage																											100.00%
Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																			$ 64,600,000.0
Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)								1.65%
Construction Loans | Wall Street Journal Prime
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																			0.40%
Term Loan | $700 Million Loan Maturity September 2023
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued								$ 615,000,000.0
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									1,636,700,000		$ 1,636,700,000	1,570,512,000
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									226,608,000		226,608,000	239,764,000
Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									339,494,000		339,494,000	52,530,000
Downtown Summerlin | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 266,755,000		$ 266,755,000	274,088,000
Facility amount																				$ 275,900,000
Option to extend, term																				1 year
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.65%		4.65%
Long-term line of credit																				$ 311,800,000
Repayment of debt																				$ 30,000,000
Downtown Summerlin | Operating Assets | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																				2.15%
Downtown Summerlin | Operating Assets | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											35.00%
Decrease in exposure of outstanding principal upon completion of project and achievement of debt service coverage ratio																											15.00%
Debt service coverage ratio required to achieve reduced maximum percentage recourse																											1.15
Maximum recourse percentage, upon achievement of conditions																											10.00%
Debt service coverage ratio required to achieve further reduction in maximum percentage recourse																											1.25
Percentage cf occupancy of real estate property																									90.00%		90.00%
Average minimum tenant sales needed to achieve further reduction in maximum percent recourse																											$ 500.00
Ke Kilohana | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 96,757,000		96,757,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 142,656,000		$ 142,656,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.75%		5.75%
Ke Kilohana | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											30.00%
Ke Kilohana | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 29,000,000		$ 29,000,000
Outlet At Riverwalk Properties | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term				6 months
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued				$ 47,900,000.0																											$ 56,100,000.0
Outlet At Riverwalk Properties | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 47,552,000		$ 47,552,000	53,841,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.00%		5.00%
Outlet At Riverwalk Properties | Operating Assets | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)				2.50%
Outlet At Riverwalk Properties | Operating Assets | Recourse Debt | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 23,800,000		$ 23,800,000
Recourse percentage																											50.00%
110 N Wacker
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Repayment of debt																	$ 18,900,000
Fair value derivative liabilities																	$ 300,000
110 N Wacker | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | extention_option													2
Extension option, term													1 year
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued						$ 512,600,000.0							$ 494,500,000.0
Variable interest entity, consolidated, joint venture debt, guarantee amount													$ 89,000,000
Variable interest entity, consolidated, joint venture debt, increase (decrease) guarantee amount						$ 92,300,000
110 N Wacker | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)													3.00%
110 N Wacker | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											18.00%
Facility amount																									9,000,000		$ 9,000,000
110 N Wacker | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									50,000,000		50,000,000	18,926,000
Facility amount																									$ 512,573,000		$ 512,573,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.50%		5.50%
Tanager Apartments | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		$ 0	0
Facility amount																									$ 44,100,000		$ 44,100,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.75%		4.75%
Tanager Apartments | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											25.00%
Lakeside Row | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term										1 year
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued										$ 34,200,000.0
Lakeside Row | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.25%
Lakeside Row | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		$ 0	0
Facility amount																									$ 34,231,000		$ 34,231,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.75%		4.75%
Lakeside Row | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											25.00%
Columbia Multi-Family | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued									$ 85,700,000.0
Columbia Multi-Family | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		$ 0	0
Facility amount																									$ 85,657,000		$ 85,657,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.25%		5.25%
Columbia Multi-Family | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											25.00%
6100 Marriweather | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued									$ 89,800,000.0
6100 Marriweather | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		$ 0	0
Facility amount																									$ 89,844,000		$ 89,844,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.25%		5.25%
6100 Marriweather | Strategic Developments | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																											25.00%
Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Pledged assets, not separately reported																									$ 4,200,000,000		$ 4,200,000,000
Woodlands Properties | Master Planned Communities | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility amount																						$ 180,000,000
Woodlands Properties | Master Planned Communities | Term Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility amount																						100,000,000
Woodlands Properties | Master Planned Communities | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility amount																						$ 80,000,000
The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | Mortgages
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued		$ 62,500,000
The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 62,500,000		$ 62,500,000	65,500,000
Option to extend, term																						1 year
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.75%		5.75%
Number of extension options | extention_option	2
Extension option, term	1 year
The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | Operating Assets | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																						2.75%
The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | Operating Assets | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.25%
Summerlin | Master Planned Communities | Special Improvement District Bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Bond obligation liabilities assumed by buyers																									$ 10,900,000		$ 10,900,000	13,900,000
Lakefront North | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term		1 year
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued		$ 51,800,000.0
Lakefront North | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)		2.00%
Lakefront North | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									21,120,000		21,120,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 51,821,000		$ 51,821,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.50%		4.50%
Three Hughes Landing | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 55,759,000		$ 55,759,000	45,058,000
Facility amount																									$ 62,000,000		$ 62,000,000
Option to extend, term			1 year
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.10%		5.10%
Long-term line of credit			$ 62,000,000																											$ 65,500,000
Three Hughes Landing | Operating Assets | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)			2.60%
Mortgaged Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Repayment of debt																											$ 608,700,000
Unamortized bond issuance costs																									$ 8,600,000		8,600,000
Loss on redemption of senior notes due 2021																											700,000
Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Repayment of debt														$ 11,800,000
Lake Woodlands Crossing Retail | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Recourse percentage																15.00%
Maximum recourse percentage, upon achievement of conditions																50.00%
Percentage cf occupancy of real estate property																90.00%
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																1.80%
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																$ 15,500,000.0
Lake Woodlands Crossing Retail | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									9,539,000		9,539,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 15,523,000		$ 15,523,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.30%		4.30%
Constellation | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																																	$ 24,200,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																																	4.07%
Aristocrat | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																			$ 31,100,000.0
Aristocrat | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 21,296,000		$ 21,296,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 31,118,000		$ 31,118,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.90%		5.90%
Two Summerlin | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																			$ 33,400,000.0
Two Summerlin | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 14,431,000		$ 14,431,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 33,432,000		$ 33,432,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.90%		5.90%
Kewalo Harbor | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 3,499,000		$ 3,499,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 11,562,000		$ 11,562,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.25%		5.25%
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																					$ 11,600,000.0
Kewalo Harbor | Operating Assets | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																					2.75%
Columbia Regional Building | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 25,000,000		$ 25,000,000	25,000,000							$ 25,000,000
Facility amount																																			$ 23,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.48%		4.48%								4.48%
One Lakes Edge | Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																								$ 69,440,000				69,440,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.50%
One Lakes Edge | Operating Assets | Fannie Mae
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Debt instrument, term																								12 years
Debt instrument, interest term																								4 years
Debt instrument, amortization period																								30 years
Ae'o | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued																									$ 174,000,000.0		$ 174,000,000.0
Number of repayments | repayment																									3
Ae'o | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		0	33,603,000
Facility amount																									$ 215,000,000		$ 215,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.49%		5.49%
Two Lakes Edge | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term					1 year
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued					$ 74,000,000.0
Two Lakes Edge | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.15%
Two Lakes Edge | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 0		$ 0	0
Facility amount																									$ 74,000,000		$ 74,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.65%		4.65%
6100 Merriweather And Columbia Multi-Family | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term									1 year
6100 Merriweather And Columbia Multi-Family | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)									2.75%
Summerlin Ballpark | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued											$ 51,200,000.0
Summerlin Ballpark | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)											4.92%
Summerlin Ballpark | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 26,766,000		$ 26,766,000	0
Facility amount																									$ 51,231,000		$ 51,231,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.92%		4.92%
250 Water Street | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 129,723,000		$ 129,723,000	0
Interest rate (as a percent)																									6.00%		6.00%
Downtown Summerlin Apartments | Construction Loans
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Extension option, term															3 years
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued															$ 44,100,000.0
Downtown Summerlin Apartments | Construction Loans | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)															2.25%
Waiea And Anaha Condominium Towers | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Repayment of debt																		$ 195,300,000
Fellowship Drive100 | Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 35,481,000		$ 35,481,000	$ 1,000
Facility amount																																$ 51,426,000
Interest rate (as a percent)																									4.00%		4.00%
Fellowship Drive100 | Strategic Developments | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																										1.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | $700 Million Loan Maturity September 2023
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Aggregate principal amount of debt issued								$ 85,000,000.0
Naming Rights And Marketing Agreement
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Revenue											$ 4,000,000
Notes Payable, Other Payables | Outlet At Riverwalk Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | extention_option				2
Notes Payable, Other Payables | 6100 Merriweather And Columbia Multi-Family
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | extention_option									2
Notes Payable, Other Payables | 250 Water Street
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | extention_option												3
Extension option, term												6 months
Short-term debt												$ 129,700,000
Interest free term												6 months
Interest rate (as a percent)												6.00%
Extension option, minimum paydown												$ 30,000,000.0
Woodlands Land Development Company | 100 Fellowship Drive, Lakefront North, Three Hughes Landing, The Woodlands Resort And Conference Center And Lake Woodlands Crossing | Operating Assets | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Carrying amount																									$ 72,300,000		$ 72,300,000