Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Sep. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Matson, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000003453
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	42,556,957
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating Revenue:
Ocean transportation	$ 307.1	$ 281.4	$ 886.1	$ 794.1
Logistics	94.3	99.2	275.6	293.6
Total operating revenue	401.4	380.6	1,161.7	1,087.7
Costs and Expenses:
Operating costs	337.0	324.7	996.0	943.9
Equity in income of terminal joint venture	(0.7)	(2.8)	(3.1)	(6.8)
Selling, general and administrative	30.6	27.8	87.4	83.8
Separation costs	0.3		8.6
Operating costs and expenses	367.2	349.7	1,088.9	1,020.9
Operating Income	34.2	30.9	72.8	66.8
Interest expense	(4.0)	(1.9)	(7.9)	(5.7)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	30.2	29.0	64.9	61.1
Income tax expense	11.2	10.6	28.6	22.0
Income From Continuing Operations	19.0	18.4	36.3	39.1
Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)	0.1	(9.7)	(6.0)	(6.5)
Net Income	19.1	8.7	30.3	32.6
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax:
Net Income	19.1	8.7	30.3	32.6
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net loss and prior service cost			1.1	1.2
Less: amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost	0.7	(0.3)	1.0	(0.3)
Less: amortization of net loss included in net periodic pension cost	(2.7)	(2.5)	(3.5)	(2.8)
Other Comprehensive Income	(2.0)	(2.8)	(1.4)	(1.9)
Comprehensive Income	$ 17.1	$ 5.9	$ 28.9	$ 30.7
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.44	$ 0.86	$ 0.94
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.23)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.16)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.21	$ 0.72	$ 0.78
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.44	$ 0.85	$ 0.94
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.23)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.17)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.21	$ 0.71	$ 0.77
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	42.5	41.7	42.2	41.6
Diluted (in shares)	42.8	42.1	42.6	42.0
Cash Dividends Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.315	$ 0.78	$ 0.945

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11.5	$ 9.8
Accounts and notes receivable, net	166.4	167.7
Inventories	4.3	4.2
Deferred income taxes	1.3	1.3
Prepaid expenses and other assets	26.8	25.1
Current assets related to discontinued operations	0.2	66.9
Total current assets	210.5	275.0
Investments in affiliate	59.5	56.5
Property, at cost	1,779.8	1,760.7
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,003.3)	(960.2)
Property - net	776.5	800.5
Other Assets	112.0	95.2
Long-term assets related to discontinued operations		1,317.1
Total	1,158.5	2,544.3
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt	21.4	17.5
Accounts payable	127.0	135.5
Payroll and vacation benefits	15.9	16.0
Uninsured claims	7.3	6.5
Due to affiliate		2.2
Accrued and other liabilities	22.2	8.8
Current liabilities related to discontinued operations	0.1	92.2
Total current liabilities	193.9	278.7
Long-term Liabilities:
Long-term debt	307.2	180.1
Deferred income taxes	248.8	255.1
Employee benefit plans	103.3	113.0
Due to affiliate		0.5
Uninsured claims and other liabilities	33.4	24.3
Long term liabilities related to discontinued operations		570.1
Total long-term liabilities	692.7	1,143.1
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 3)
Shareholders' Equity:
Capital stock	31.9	34.0
Additional capital	251.5	238.3
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(42.9)	(91.9)
Retained earnings	31.4	953.0
Cost of treasury stock		(10.9)
Total shareholders' equity	271.9	1,122.5
Total	$ 1,158.5	$ 2,544.3

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Treasury	Additional Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,122.5	$ 34.0	$ (10.9)	$ 238.3	$ (91.9)	$ 953.0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		45.3	(3.6)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net Income	30.3					30.3
Other comprehensive income	2.1				2.1
Excess tax benefit and share withholding	(2.2)	(0.1)		0.5		(2.6)
Excess tax benefit and share withholding (in shares)		(0.1)
Share-based compensation	5.4			5.4
Shares issued	23.0	0.7		22.3
Shares issued (in shares)		1.0
Retirement of treasury shares		(2.7)	10.9	(8.2)
Retirement of treasury shares (in shares)		(3.6)	3.6
Dividends	(33.1)					(33.1)
Distribution of A&B Stock	(876.1)			(6.8)	46.9	(916.2)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 271.9	$ 31.9		$ 251.5	$ (42.9)	$ 31.4
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		42.6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities from Continuing Operations	$ 66.5	$ 71.3
Cash Flows from Investing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Capital expenditures	(30.8)	(39.5)
Proceeds from disposal of property and other assets	0.9	1.7
Deposits into Capital Construction Fund	(4.4)	(4.4)
Withdrawals from Capital Construction Fund	4.4	4.4
Contribution from A&B	26.7	28.9
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(3.2)	(8.9)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities from Continuing Operations:
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs	185.1	48.5
Payments of debt	(49.9)	(40.9)
Payments on line-of-credit agreements, net	(6.0)	(10.7)
Distribution upon Separation	(155.0)
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock	24.8	9.0
Distribution to A&B for proceeds from issuance of capital stock	(21.7)
Cash assumed by A&B upon Separation	(2.5)
Dividends paid	(33.1)	(39.9)
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations	(58.3)	(34.0)
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations:
Cash flows used in operating activities of discontinued operations	(30.1)	(29.1)
Cash flows used in investing activities of discontinued operations	(18.8)	(17.8)
Cash flows from financing activities of discontinued operations	33.9	21.0
Net cash flows used in discontinued operations	(15.0)	(25.9)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(10.0)	2.5
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	21.5	14.2
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11.5	16.7
Other Cash Flow Information:
Interest paid	6.5	6.1
Income taxes paid	28.2	0.2
Other Non-cash Information:
Depreciation and amortization expense	56.0	53.1
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 0.1	$ 0.2

Description of Business:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Description of Business:

Description of Business:

(1) Description of Business: “Matson” or the “Company” means Matson, Inc., a holding company incorporated in January 2012 in the State of Hawaii, together with its operating company, Matson Navigation Company, Inc. (“MatNav”), and all of its subsidiaries. MatNav is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matson, Inc.

Founded in 1882, Matson is a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the island economies of Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia, and operates a premium, expedited service from China to Southern California. The Company’s fleet of 17 vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, Inc. (“MLI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MatNav, was established in 1987 and extends the geographic reach of Matson’s transportation network throughout the continental U.S. MLI’s integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage and warehousing.

Ocean Transportation: The ocean transportation segment of Matson’s business, which is conducted through MatNav, is an asset-based business that generates revenue primarily through the carriage of containerized freight between various U.S. Pacific Coast, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, China and other Pacific island ports.

Also, the Company has a 35 percent ownership interest in SSA Terminals, LLC (“SSAT”) through a joint venture between Matson Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MatNav, and SSA Ventures, Inc. (“SSA”), a subsidiary of Carrix, Inc. SSAT provides terminal and stevedoring services to numerous international carriers at six terminal facilities on the U.S. Pacific Coast and to MatNav at several of those facilities. Matson records its share of income in the joint venture in operating expenses within the ocean transportation segment, due to the nature of the business.

Logistics: The logistics services segment of Matson’s business, which is conducted through MLI, is an asset-light based business that is a provider of domestic and international rail intermodal service (“Intermodal”), long-haul and regional highway brokerage, specialized hauling, flat-bed and project work, less-than-truckload services, expedited freight services, and warehousing and distribution services (collectively “Highway”). Warehousing, packaging and distribution services are provided by Matson Logistics Warehousing, Inc. (“MLW”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MLI.

Separation Transaction: On December 1, 2011, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., the former parent company of MatNav (the “Former Parent Company”), announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to pursue the separation (the “Separation”) of the Former Parent Company to create two independent, publicly traded companies:

· Matson, a Hawaii-based ocean transportation company serving the U.S. Pacific Coast, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and China, and a domestic logistics company; and

· Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (“A&B”), a Hawaii-based land company with interests in real estate development, commercial real estate and agriculture.

On February 13, 2012, the Former Parent Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger to reorganize itself by forming a holding company incorporated in Hawaii, Alexander & Baldwin Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”). The holding company structure helped facilitate the Separation through the organization and segregation of the assets of the two businesses. In addition, the holding company reorganization was intended to help preserve the Company’s status as a U.S. citizen under certain U.S. maritime and vessel documentation laws (popularly referred to as the Jones Act) by, amongst other things, limiting the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock in the holding company that may be owned (of record or beneficially) or controlled in the aggregate by non-U.S. citizens (as defined by the Jones Act) to a maximum permitted percentage of 22%.

The Separation was completed June 29, 2012. In the Separation, the shareholders of Holdings received one share of common stock of A&B for every share of Holdings held of record as of the record date, June 18, 2012. Immediately following the Separation, Alexander & Baldwin Holdings, Inc. changed its name to Matson, Inc. For accounting purposes, Matson is the successor company to the Former Parent Company.

Prior to the completion of the Separation, the Company and A&B entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement and an Employee Matters Agreement, each dated June 8, 2012, that govern the post-Separation relationship. In addition, the Company and A&B entered into a Transition Services Agreement, dated June 8, 2012, under which each company agreed to provide the other with various services on an interim, transitional basis, for up to 24 months.

Also in relation to the Separation, intercompany receivables, payables, loans and other accounts between A&B and Matson, in existence immediately prior to the effective time were satisfied and/or settled; and intercompany agreements and all other arrangements in effect immediately prior to the distribution have been terminated or canceled, subject to certain exceptions.

Matson will incur total cash outflows of $166.2 million in relation to the Separation. The total cash outflows were made up of three components: capital distribution, capitalized debt issuance costs and Separation related expenses referred to as Separation costs in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

The breakdown of Separation cash outflows are as follows (in millions):

	Separation Cash Outflows
Capital distribution to A&B(A)	$	155.7
Separation costs	8.6
Capitalized debt financing costs	1.9
Total cash outflow related to the Separation	$	166.2

(A) Includes a net distribution of $4.3 million, of which $3.6 million was paid out during the third quarter of 2012 related to the settlement of certain liabilities of the Former Parent Company. The remaining $0.7 million is expected to be paid in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

(2) The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited. Due to the nature of the Company’s operations, the results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for fair presentation of the results of the interim periods; they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Former Parent Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The period end for Matson, Inc. is September 30. The period end for MatNav occurred on the last Friday in September, except for MLW whose period closed on September 30.

Certain amounts reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, have been reclassified to discontinued operations to conform to the presentation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Description of Business: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2012 SSAT	Jun. 30, 2012 Alexander & Baldwin	Dec. 31, 2011 Alexander & Baldwin item	Sep. 30, 2012 Alexander & Baldwin item	Dec. 31, 2012 Alexander & Baldwin	Jun. 29, 2012 Alexander & Baldwin
Description of Business
Number of vessels owned				17
Ownership interest in SSAT (as a percent)					35.00%
Number of terminal facilities on which SSAT provides terminal and stevedoring services to Matnav and numerous international carriers				6
Number of publicly traded companies to be created after separation							2
Jones Act requirement to maintain status as U.S. citizen, maximum ownership interest permitted by non-U.S. citizens (as a percent)								22.00%
Number of shares of common stock of A&B received for each share upon separation										1
Maximum period during which services are to be provided under Transition Services Agreement						24 months
Capital distribution to A&B								$ 155.7
Separation costs	0.3	5.8	2.5	8.6				8.6
Capitalized debt financing costs								1.9
Total cash outflow related to the Separation								166.2
Number of cash outflow components								3
Net distribution in relation to separation	$ 4.3			$ 4.3				$ 3.6	$ 0.7

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Standby letters of credit
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies
Commitments and financial arrangements	$ 7.0
Letters of credit amount that enables qualification as self-insurer	4.8
Letters of credit to support credit enhancement needs	2.2
Performance and customs bonds
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies
Commitments and financial arrangements	14.2
U.S. Customs Bonds	13.0
Bonds related to transportation and other matters	1.2
Benefit plan withdrawal obligations
Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies
Multiemployer Plan Withdrawal Obligation	$ 91.3

Share-Based Compensation: (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 1,821
Exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 1,362
Stock options
Share-based compensation disclosures
Options cancelled in connection with separation (in shares)	2,900,000
Activity in the entity's stock option plans
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	2,096,000
Granted (in shares)	111,000
Exercised (in shares)	(669,000)
Forfeited and expired (in shares)	(83,000)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	1,455,000
Exercisable (in shares)	1,001,000
Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding, weighted average exercise price, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 20.11
Granted, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 23.74
Exercised, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 17.54
Forfeited and expired, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.14
Outstanding, weighted average exercise price, end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 21.29
Exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 21.61
Outstanding, weighted average contractual life	5 years 7 months 6 days
Exercisable, weighted average contractual life	4 years 6 months
2007 Plan \| Stock options
Activity in the entity's stock option plans
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	1,329,000
Granted (in shares)	111,000
Exercised (in shares)	(430,000)
Forfeited and expired (in shares)	(5,000)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	1,005,000
Exercisable (in shares)	551,000
1998 Plan \| Stock options
Activity in the entity's stock option plans
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	572,000
Exercised (in shares)	(190,000)
Forfeited and expired (in shares)	(78,000)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	304,000
Exercisable (in shares)	304,000
Predecessor Plan 1998 Directors' Plan
Activity in the entity's stock option plans
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	195,000
Exercised (in shares)	(49,000)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	146,000
Exercisable (in shares)	146,000

Share-Based Compensation: (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Share-Based Compensation: (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012
Restricted Stock Units
Share-based compensation disclosures
Non-vested restricted stock units cancelled in connection with separation (in shares)	300,000
2007 Plan \| Restricted Stock Units
Non-vested restricted stock unit activity
Outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)	394,000
Granted (in shares)	218,000
Vested (in shares)	(154,000)
Cancelled (in shares)	(106,000)
Outstanding, end of period (in shares)	352,000
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding, weighted average grant-date fair value, beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 18.45
Granted, weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 18.11
Vested, weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 16.57
Cancelled, weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per shares)	$ 20.62
Outstanding, weighted average grant-date fair value, end of period (in dollars per shares)	$ 18.41
Vesting period of awards granted	3 years
2007 Plan \| Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Vesting period of awards granted	3 years

Pension and Post-retirement Plans: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Pension Benefits
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$ 2.0	$ 4.1
Interest cost	6.8	8.1
Expected return on plan assets	(8.0)	(8.4)
Amortization of net (gain) loss	6.0	2.9
Amortization of prior service cost	(1.3)
Net periodic benefit cost	5.5	6.7
Cash contributed to pension plan	13.3
Estimated full year cash contributions to pension plan	13.3
Post-retirement Benefits
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	0.7	0.7
Interest cost	1.7	2.2
Amortization of net (gain) loss	1.0	1.5
Amortization of prior service cost		0.1
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 3.4	$ 4.5

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
Carrying amount of long-term debt	$ 328.6	$ 197.5
Fair value of long-term debt	$ 350.5	$ 209.1

Income Taxes: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Taxes:
Non-deductible separation costs	$ 1.7

Debt: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Unsecured revolving credit facility Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] item	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2023	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2027	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt, tranche maturing in 2032	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured debt	Sep. 30, 2012 Secured debt MatNav
Debt
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 375.0
Credit facility term			5 years
Current borrowing capacity				37.0
Cash borrowings				30.0
Letters of credit				7.0
New unsecured, fixed rate, amortizing long-term debt							170.0	77.5	55.0	37.5
Number of tranches							3
Interest rate (as a percent)								3.66%	4.16%	4.31%
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
Total debt	$ 328.6	$ 197.5
Debt covenant, required ratio of debt to consolidated EBITDA				1.99		3.25
Ratio of consolidated EBITDA to interest expense				16.71	3.50
Debt covenant, required principal amount of priority debt as a percentage of consolidated tangible assets				6.50%		20.00%
Debt covenant, required principal amount of priority debt (excluding Title XI) as a percentage of consolidated tangible assets						10.00%