I'm not sure if I'm understanding your question correctly, but honest is an adjective, meaning it's a <u>describing word</u>. A noun is a <u>person, place, or object. </u>A noun that could go with the adjective honest is mom. If you say "An honest mom," you're using the adjective (honest) to describe the noun (mom).
Happy is also an adjective. You could use happy to describe an animal. If you say "A happy turtle," you're using the adjective (happy) to describe the noun (turtle).