MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE, NET (Borrowing Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 18, 2020	Jun. 22, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year			$ 4,096,470
Issuances/Borrowings			1,403,923	$ 1,292,083	$ 1,172,622
Repayments	$ (807,900)		(867,935)	(386,489)	(838,462)
Special Improvement District bond assumptions			(10,122)	(22,423)	$ (10,937)
Deferred financing costs, net			9,352
Balance at end of year			$ 4,287,369	$ 4,096,470
9950 Woodloch Forest Drive
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			2.09%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances/Borrowings			$ 63,500
Ae‘o Retail
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			2.90%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances/Borrowings			$ 30,640
Ke Kilohana Retail
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			2.90%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances/Borrowings			$ 9,360
The Woodlands Towers at the Waterway
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.68%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (63,500)
Three Hughes Landing
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.33%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (60,766)
Two Merriweather
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.23%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (30,557)
100 Fellowship Drive
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.23%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (49,978)
HHC 242 Self-Storage
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.33%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (5,499)
HHC 2978 Self-Storage
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.33%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (5,395)
Downtown Summerlin
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.88%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments		$ (33,800)	$ (255,297)
Lakefront North
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.73%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (40,062)
Seaport District
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			6.10%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (250,000)
Two Summerlin
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.25%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (32,803)
110 North Wacker
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.73%
110 North Wacker | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Deconsolidation of 110 North Wacker			$ (326,835)
Existing mortgages, notes and loans payable
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances/Borrowings			556,166
Repayments			$ (20,055)
Bridgeland Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.23%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (50,000)
The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.23%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Repayments			$ (50,000)
Senior Notes | Senior Notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.38%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances/Borrowings			$ 750,000
Special Improvement District bonds
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Special Improvement District bond assumptions			$ (10,122)
Special Improvement District bonds | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.00%
Special Improvement District bonds | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			6.00%
Special Improvement District bonds | Special Improvement District bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			6.00%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Issuances			$ 22,750
Line of Credit | Revolver Loan | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			1.79%
Notes And Loans Payable [Roll Forward]
Borrowings			$ 67,500
Repayments			$ (67,500)