Represents the number of vessels covered relating to the collective-bargaining arrangements.

No definition available.

Name:	matx_CollectiveBargainingArrangementNumberOfVesselsCovered
Namespace Prefix:	matx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined benefit plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	matx_DefinedBenefitPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	matx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the funded status of a multiemployer plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	matx_MultiemployerPlanFundedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	matx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of collective-bargaining agreements, in which the entity is a party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	matx_MultiemployerPlansNumberOfCollectiveBargainingAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	matx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of multiemployer plans in which the entity participates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	matx_NumberOfMultiemployerPlans
Namespace Prefix:	matx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of contributions made to multiemployer plans by the employer. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450702-114947

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450691-114947

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of contributions required by a collective bargaining arrangement to all contributions required of an employer related to a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the obligation recognized by withdrawing from a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

PENSION AND POST RETIREMENT PLANS (Details 8) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	$ 13.1	$ 13.1	$ 10.5
Minimum
Multiemployer Plans
Employer matching contribution to MEBA Pension Trust (as a percent)	11.70%
Threshold of total contributions for which planned years are disclosed (as a percent)	5.00%
Master, Mates and Pilots Adjustable Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	0.8
Yellow Zone \| Hawaii Stevedoring Multiemployer Retirement Plan
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	2.7	2.4	2.2
Yellow Zone \| Hawaii Terminals Multiemployer Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	5.3	5.1	5.2
Green Zone \| Master, Mates and Pilots Adjustable Pension Plan
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	2.1	3.4	3.0
Green Zone \| MEBA Pension Trust - Defined Benefit Plan
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	2.1	2.1
Green Zone \| OCU Trust Pension
Multiemployer Plans
Contributions	0.1	0.1	0.1
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans
Multiemployer Plans
Number of multiemployer plans	10
Number of collective-bargaining agreements based upon vessels that require contributions	2
Multiemployer Plan Withdrawal Obligation	110.6
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans \| Contract A
Multiemployer Plans
Number of vessels covered	13
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans \| Contract B
Multiemployer Plans
Number of vessels covered	1
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans \| Red Zone \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans
Funded status of multiemployer plan (as a percent)	65.00%
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans \| Yellow Zone \| Maximum
Multiemployer Plans
Funded status of multiemployer plan (as a percent)	80.00%
Multiemployer Benefit Pension Plans \| Green Zone \| Minimum
Multiemployer Plans
Funded status of multiemployer plan (as a percent)	80.00%
Multiemployer Benefit Postretirement Plans
Multiemployer Plans
Number of multiemployer plans	7
Contributions	$ 10.5	$ 10.8	$ 10.7