When we are away, we miss the Hawaiians!
They are all Norwegian descendants from the northern states, and they all reside in Hawaii enjoying the warm climate. That last part does not surprise us much. However, what does surprise us is that they all agree so whole-heartedly that when they visit mainland America, they miss the rich ethnic variety of Hawaii and the friendliness of the people there.
The three are Evelyn Nilsen Lind, Joy Doucette, and Joyce Herbert.
Evelyn Nilsen Lind was born in Drak near Minot, North Dakota. Her great-grandmother was Maret Egan from Trondheim.
She now divides her time between California and Hawaii, where she enjoys dancing the hula. “I dance the haole (white people) hula,” she says. Maybe it is the Norwegian hula?
Joy Duchette says, “I am Norwegian from Kailua.” She was born and raised in Madison, Minnesota. Her great-grandmother was Siri Knutstadmarken from Gran in Hadeland, and her great-grandfather was Ole Pedersen Ratrum also from Gran.
She and her husband moved to Hawaii in 1966. When she visits Minnesota she misses the cultural variations of Hawaii.
She sings Hawaiian songs in a choir, enjoys playing golf, and, yes, in earlier years she also danced the hula!
Joyce Herbert grew up in Osakis, Minnesota.
“A great place to grow up,” she says. “We lived on a farm, worked a lot, but also had a lot of fun.
And we had lots of good food—and ate everything on our plates!”
Joyce’s Norwegian grandparents were Bertine (nee Nordnes) and Ole Johannessen Kluken from Verdal. They emigrated in 1900.
After high school Joyce moved to California to escape the cold winters of Minnesota. She became a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, then met and married Ted who was a flight captain.
“We got the chance to be stationed in Hawaii and said yes. We got a little homesick at first, but after living here two years, no one could ever get me to leave!” says Joyce who has now lived in Hawaii for over 30 years.
Joyce and Ted are enjoying retirement, but their son has followed in his father’s footsteps and is now a flight captain. He and his wife and two children also live in Kailua