A 7-year-old girl, who along with her father helped to save a young endangered Hawaiian owl, has received one of the state’s first “Citizen Conservationist” awards.

Malia Rillamas, a first-grader at Haleiwa Elementary School, was recognized Thursday, along with her father, Jonathan Rillamas, and Brian Smith.

During a news conference, state land board chairperson Suzanne Case praised the rescue as representing the spirit of a conservation partnership between the public and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Malia was riding home to Waialua with her father on Jan. 15 when she saw the injured owl hopping across the road on the outskirts of Wahiawa. She asked her father to stop and both went to help the bird, which had fallen into a 4-foot ditch.

Smith, another driver, stopped to assist. DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was contacted, while the trio waited for several hours.

“Rather than just driving away, they kept watch over this native, rare bird,” said Robert Farrell, state conservation chief. “Without their help, this bird would have never survived.”

The owl was taken to Aloha Animal Hospital, where it is recovering after its left wing was bandaged.