A 20-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier died in Kirkuk, Iraq, Wednesday from injuries suffered in a noncombat-related incident, Department of Defense officials said yesterday.

Pfc. Casey S. Carriker, of Hoquiam, Wash., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

Circumstances of his death are being investigated, according to a Pentagon news release.

AUSTRALIAN FACES LONG ICE SENTENCE

An Australian woman is facing a mandatory 10-year federal prison sentence for charges related to methamphetamine smuggling from California to Hawai'i.

Ai Hang Thi Hyde, also known as Kim Hyde, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to drug conspiracy, money laundering and forfeiture charges, a news release said.

U.S. Attorney for Hawai'i Ed Kubo said Hyde arranged for others to receive parcels containing crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," which was to be distributed here.

Hyde also traveled to the Mainland to deliver money to obtain pounds of ice, and admitted she has had "many pounds" of the drug sent for distribution here, Kubo said in the release.

She will forfeit more than $1 million in drug proceeds that were found in her business bank accounts, and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 15.

Hyde's co-defendant, Ryan Yukio Shinjo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges in May, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1.

FIREFIGHTERS STOP BIG ISLAND WILDFIRE

Big Island firefighters yesterday contained a brushfire that scorched 560 acres near Waimea and injured one person.

Crews continued to monitor hot spots through the night, and will keep a bulldozer on the scene until Monday as a precaution.

The fire was reported about 1 p.m. Thursday, east of Highway 190 and south of West Hawaii Concrete.

The blaze continued to burn Thursday night in an inaccessible area south of the concrete company's facility.

The nature and extent of the injury was not immediately released.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

KONA AIRPORT WORK GETS $5M TO START

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $5 million for improvements to Kona International Airport, including a centralized security checkpoint and a new air-conditioned passenger boarding area and waiting rooms.

Those two projects, along with a food court, a loading bridge for passengers relocating to the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center and electrical upgrades will cost $4 million.

The remaining $1 million will be spent to add 100 parking spaces and a pedestrian path in one parking lot, and to install conduits for future solar projects.

FEDERAL GRANTS AID HAWAIIAN STUDENTS

Five Hawai'i colleges and universities will receive a total of $2.6 million in grants that aim to step up opportunities for Native Hawaiian students, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced Thursday.

Chaminade University, Kapi-'olani Community College, Hono-lulu Community College, Leeward Community College and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa will use the grants to plan and to implement various campus upgrades and activities for students.

"These grants will enhance the school's efforts to improve the educational opportunities for Native Hawaiian students," Spellings said.

$88,000 WILL GO TO STUDENTS TODAY

High school seniors from 59 schools will receive $88,000 in scholarships from the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Inc. at a luncheon today.

Two $10,000 scholarships, one $5,000 scholarship, seven $2,000 scholarships and 49 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. The luncheon takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waialae Country Club.

Since 1993, the foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships to an outstanding student at every qualifying high school in the state.