KALUAKO'I, Moloka'i — Firefighters yesterday contained a brushfire that began Monday and burned at least 140 acres on Moloka'i's west end.

County officials reported the 40 homes in the Kaluako'i area were not in immediate danger. A preliminary investigation indicated the fire may have been accidentally started by workers for a private company cutting into an old radio antenna, said county spokeswoman Mahina Martin. The workers tried to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames but the fire spread too quickly under windy conditions, she said.

The fire was contained around noon, and the nine Maui firefighters who had been dispatched to assist their Moloka'i counterparts were sent home, said Battalion Chief Frank Tam.

COURT DISBARS EX-COUNCILMAN

Former City Councilman Andrew Mirikitani, convicted here in 2001 in a bribery-kickback scandal, has been disbarred by the Hawai'i Supreme Court.

Mirikitani was convicted by a federal jury of offering bonuses to two of his council staffers in exchange for them routing some of the money back to him.

He was sentenced to just more than four years in prison in 2002. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year rejected an appeal.

The Hawai'i Supreme Court yesterday announced Mirikitani's disbarment, saying in a press release that his criminal conduct "reflected adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer."

The court also announced the disbarment of former Honolulu lawyer William H. Elkner for ethical violations, including misappropriation of clients' funds and "engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation."