Ballet Hawaii's Steve Knox, seen with Judith Muncaster, left, associate director of development, and artistic director Pamela Taylor Tongg, is leaving his post as executive director and moving to the Mainland to pursue family interests. Courtesy of Ballet Hawaii

"It's like losing a member of the family," said Susan Schull, president of Ballet Hawaii, in a statement. Ballet Hawaii is the state's largest producing and presenting nonprofit ballet company in the Islands; it also operates a dance school for beginners through teenagers.

"We will miss him and wish him well on his next venture in life," said Pamela Taylor Tongg, the company's artistic director.

During Knox's tenure, Ballet Hawaii has presented some of the top dance soloists and groups in concerts here, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Paul Taylor, the Mark Morris Dance Company, Pilobolus and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

Ballet Hawaii's annual "Nutcracker," a glitzy and artistic production featuring international and local talent, has been a highlight of the holiday season. The company also has staged full-length productions of "Sleeping Beauty" and "Coppelia," with "Cinderella" planned this summer.

Knox has agreed to stay on until his successor is found. Prospects may send resumes to info@ballethawaii.org.