NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified								1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 5.79%, payable through 2020	Dec. 31, 2011 5.79%, payable through 2020	Dec. 31, 2012 3.66%, payable through 2023	Dec. 31, 2012 4.16%, payable through 2027	Dec. 31, 2012 4.31%, payable through 2032	Sep. 30, 2003 5.34% payable through 2028	Dec. 31, 2012 5.34% payable through 2028 item	Dec. 31, 2011 5.34% payable through 2028	Aug. 31, 2004 5.27% payable through 2029	Dec. 31, 2012 5.27% payable through 2029 item	Dec. 31, 2011 5.27% payable through 2029	May 31, 2005 4.79% payable (Series B Notes)	Dec. 31, 2012 4.79% payable (Series B Notes) item	Dec. 31, 2012 4.79% payable (Series B Notes) MatNav	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility MatNav	Dec. 31, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility Alexander & Baldwin	Dec. 31, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility Alexander & Baldwin	Dec. 31, 2010 Revolving Credit Facility Alexander & Baldwin	Aug. 31, 2011 Revolving Credit Facility Alexander & Baldwin	Jul. 31, 2006 Senior Secured Reducing Revolving Credit Facility	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt item	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2023	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2023	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2027	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2027	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2032	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2032	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured debt	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured debt MatNav
Debt
Long-term debt	$ 319.1	$ 197.5	$ 52.5	$ 59.5	$ 77.5	$ 55.0	$ 37.5		$ 35.2	$ 37.4		$ 37.4	$ 39.6			$ 56.0		$ 24.0	$ 61.0													$ 77.5		$ 55.0		$ 37.5
Less current portion	(16.4)	(17.5)
Total long-term debt	302.7	180.0
Debt issued								55.0			55.0			105.0																170.0	77.5		55.0		37.5
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.79%	5.79%	3.66%	4.16%	4.31%	5.34%	5.34%	5.34%	5.27%	5.27%	5.27%	4.79%				1.69%	1.29%												3.66%		4.16%		4.31%
Number of semi-annual payments									50			50			30
Semi-annual payments									1.1			1.1			3.5
Debt instrument term															15 years
Maximum borrowing capacity																								125.0	105.0	375.0
Interest rate, minimum (as a percent)																					1.21%	0.44%	0.49%
Interest rate, maximum (as a percent)																					1.92%	1.91%	1.34%
Extinguishment of debt																	72
Outstanding amount																				72
Credit facility term																										5 years
Current borrowing capacity																									70.0		30.8
Cash borrowings																											24.0
Letters of credit																											6.8
Number of tranches																														3
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																														3.97%
Weighted average period																														9 years 3 months 18 days
Release of MV Manulani as security for debt																																					56.0	72.6
Debt covenant, required ratio of debt to consolidated EBITDA																													3.25
Ratio of consolidated EBITDA to interest expense																												3.50
Debt covenant, required principal amount of priority debt as a percentage of consolidated tangible assets																													20.00%
Debt covenant, required principal amount of priority debt (excluding Title XI) as a percentage of consolidated tangible assets																													10.00%
Long-term debt maturities
2013	16.4
2014	30.4
2015	20.5
2016	20.5
2017	28.2
Thereafter	203.1
Total	$ 319.1	$ 197.5	$ 52.5	$ 59.5	$ 77.5	$ 55.0	$ 37.5		$ 35.2	$ 37.4		$ 37.4	$ 39.6			$ 56.0		$ 24.0	$ 61.0													$ 77.5		$ 55.0		$ 37.5