What or where is Vhaland?

I find the beginning of my great-grandparents, Nils and Anna Khirstine Thorstensen, immigration from Christiana to America in the Norwegian Digital Archives site. The database "Emigrants of Kristiania 1871-1930" record #30479-#30481 lists Nils Thor Stens, his wife Kristine, and their son Lauritz as leaving Kristiania on 29 April 1881 with destination Vhaland. http://digitalarkivet.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&sidenr=7&filnamn=emikra1&gardpostnr=30479&merk=30479#ovre What or where is Vhaland? From the Norway-Heritage site I learn that the S/S Rollo took them from Kristiania to Hull, England where they then traveled to Liverpool. On Ancestry.com I found them on the passenger list for the S/S Lord Clive which sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia arriving there on 17 May 1881. From there? I don't initially know. My grandmother was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in December 1882 and is reported to be their first child born in America. I do not find an official listing for Nils in that area until the 1884 St. Paul City Directory. They remained there for the rest of their lives. Nils died in 1915 and Kristine in 1926. I am wondering if the mysterious "Vhaland" is actually a place where they went for a time before traveling on to Minneapolis/St. Paul or a word representing a concept, like paradise, freedom or a chance to survive? Thank you to anyone who can help with this question! Ann