HONOLULU -- The cause of the apartment fire on Tuesday is still under investigation. The owner of the apartment where the fire started told KITV that he believes his burning candles started the blaze.

Felix Almestica gave a statement to police in the morning shortly after the fire broke out in apartment 2509. He said he was gone for an hour only to return to his apartment up in flames.

"Maintenance was telling everybody that it was 2509 and that's when I discovered it was my apartment," Almestica said.

"Did you leave anything on? Electrical? Candles burning, anything like that?" KITV reporter Mahealani Richardson asked.

"Candles burning," Almestica said.

"You left candles burning?" Richardson asked.

"I always do, every day. It's part of my daily prayer service thing that I do," Almestica said.

He was worried about his charred home and his fellow residents severely injured by smoke and forced to evacuate.

"Look at all the mess I created. Look at all the people freaking out up there. Of course it bugs me, but what can I do about it. I didn't do it intentionally," Almestica said.

Almestica is an entertainer and known for singing in the 80s and 90s with the local oldies group The Love Notes.

He said he lived in the apartment with his roommate for two just months, but now there is nothing to go back to.