Daniel Dinell, executive director of the state agency guiding redevelopment of 670 acres in Kaka'ako and 3,700 acres at Kalaeloa, is leaving the Hawai'i Community Development Authority in August for a private-sector job.

Dinell is departing the HCDA after nearly four years, a period during which the agency conducted major Kaka'ako and Kalaeloa planning work, but he may be better remembered for an ambitious plan to redevelop the Kaka'ako waterfront that failed and led to public protests and calls to abolish the agency.

Dinell said he decided to leave the agency after receiving an unsolicited job offer from a company in Hawai'i. "I thought long and hard about it," he said. "I think we're in a good place with HCDA."

Dinell did not disclose the name of the company he will join, saying he felt it more appropriate for the company to make the announcement.

Before joining the agency, Dinell handled government relations work for Hilton Hawai'i. He held various positions at Hilton both in Hawai'i and at the company's California headquarters beginning in 1989.

The HCDA is expected to conduct a search to select Dinell's replacement.

In its aborted Kaka'ako waterfront plan, the HCDA solicited private development proposals for 37 acres of state land mostly on the 'ewa side of Kewalo Basin.

The agency in 2005 tentatively selected a bid by Alexander & Baldwin Inc. to develop three 20-story residential condominiums, an extension of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, a public hula amphitheater, a waterfront promenade, a farmers market, shops, restaurants and a pedestrian bridge over Kewalo Harbor channel.

A&B offered to pay the state $50 million for six acres of slightly inland property on which to build 947 condo units, and lease the rest of the land under an agreement that would earn the state revenue.

The condos, according to the agency and A&B, were an integral piece of the project to help pay for public improvements, including maintaining the existing waterfront park, and generate more vibrant activity in the area.

But the plan drew considerable public criticism, much of which opposed selling such high-value public property for private residential use. Some criticism also surrounded the agency's procurement process that involved seeking development proposals and then keeping responses confidential until agency directors tentatively selected a preferred plan, leaving public comment for afterward.

Efforts by A&B to scale back and modify its project failed to gain enough support. Last year, the plan was torpedoed by the Legislature, which also passed a law prohibiting residential development or selling of state land makai of Ala Moana from Kewalo Basin Park to Pier 2.

The groundwork for redeveloping Kaka'ako makai, including the intent to allow residential use of the area, predated Dinell, who said a constructive product of the experience was the formation of a citizens advisory group to help shape a development vision for public land along the Kaka'ako waterfront.

Other more positive and less controversial work by the agency under Dinell's leadership includes a revision under way of development rules for Kaka'ako mauka of Ala Moana, planning for Kalaeloa and processing numerous development plans for private land in Kaka'ako that has been an epicenter for urban growth and high-rise condo construction in the past four years.

The agency also continues to work on more contentious issues of assessing small businesses along Queen Street to help pay for road improvements, as well as a plan to repair, renovate and manage Kewalo Harbor that will dramatically raise slip fees and impose other rules opposed by harbor users.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.