HFD Battalion Chief Kenison Tejada confirmed that candles started the fire.

See scenes from the fire in this video.

The fire, at Kapiolani Manor across from the Don Quijote store on Makaloa Street, left five people suffering from smoke inhalation, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department. Cheplic said a 96-year-old woman was in critical condition at Straub Clinic & Hospital. A 78-year-old woman was reported to be in serious condition, Cheplic said.

"The older woman was found unresponsive but was revived after being transported from the burning building," Cheplic said.

A 43-year-old woman was taken in stable condition to Kuakini Medical Center, he said.

A man in his late 40s or early 50s who is a maintenance worker at the building and a woman who lives in a seventh-floor apartment were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but declined to be taken to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment, Cheplic said.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the two older women were found in the hallway on the 25th floor not far from the burning apartment.

While the fire was contained for the most part to the burning apartment, flames were shooting out from under the door of the apartment into the hallway, Seelig said.