Kamehameha Schools officials said they plan to build a 70-acre complex in Makaha that would help to develop educational programs and work with public schools on the Leeward Coast.

The 70-acre Learning Community is part of the 300 acres donated by real estate developer Jeffrey R. Stone, who held a presentation for the news media yesterday at the governor's conference room.

The remaining 230 acres are going to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Stone said the donation to Hawaiian Homes was given with the understanding that the 400 to 600 housing units to be built in Makaha would be affordable, between $198,000 and $249,000.

Kamehameha Schools officials said the donation is an opportunity to raise the level of education in an area with the highest percentage of Hawaiians.

Kamehameha Schools' chief executive officer, Dee Jay Mailer, said her institution will invest $100 million and work with the communities to determine where to best invest in education from Kapolei to Kaena Point.

Mailer said some programs would be available to all students while others would give priority to Hawaiian children.

She said preschool instruction will be among the areas targeted for improvement.

“;There are already preschools, but not enough,”; she said.

Stone credited state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa with being the “;catalyst”; for the donation.

He said he learned about the need for a large tract of land for Kamehameha Schools through Hanabusa, who represents the Waianae area.