MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE, NET (Summary of Recourse Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 4,320,166
1201 Lake Robbins | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	100.00%
‘A‘ali‘i | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
250 Water Street | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	35.00%
Juniper Apartments | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
Kō'ula | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
6100 Merriweather | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
Tanager | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
Lakeside Row | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
The Woodlands Warehouse | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	100.00%
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount		$ 62,500
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	100.00%
Two Lakes Edge | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
9950 Woodloch Forest Drive | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	20.00%
The Lane at Waterway | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	35.00%
Lake Woodlands Crossing Retail | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	50.00%
Creekside Park The Grove | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
Creekside Park West | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	25.00%
Senior Notes due 2025 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Senior Notes due 2025 | Senior Notes | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	100.00%
Senior Notes due 2028 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 750,000		$ 0
Senior Notes due 2028 | Senior Notes | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	100.00%
Construction Loan Payable | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Recourse %	50.00%
Recourse
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 2,299,390
Recourse | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	2,184,399
Recourse | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	114,991
Recourse | 1201 Lake Robbins | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	273,070
Recourse | ‘A‘ali‘i | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	38,650
Recourse | 250 Water Street | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	35,000
Recourse | Juniper Apartments | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	16,452
Recourse | Kō'ula | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	16,320
Recourse | 6100 Merriweather | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	15,510
Recourse | Tanager | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	9,936
Recourse | Lakeside Row | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	7,892
Recourse | The Woodlands Warehouse | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	7,230
Recourse | The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount				$ 62,500
Recourse | Two Lakes Edge | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	16,550
Recourse | 9950 Woodloch Forest Drive | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	14,221
Recourse | The Lane at Waterway | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	7,759
Recourse | Lake Woodlands Crossing Retail | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	6,164
Recourse | Creekside Park The Grove | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	4,117
Recourse | Creekside Park West | Total recourse to TWLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	3,680
Recourse | Senior Notes due 2025 | Senior Notes | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	1,000,000
Recourse | Senior Notes due 2028 | Senior Notes | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	750,000
Recourse | Construction Loan Payable | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Total recourse to HHC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 14,339