Honor All Living Things, the acronym that came on my early morning walk. Honor as a verb: To hold in honor or high respect; revere. Also; to worship, glorify, or serve (a deity). This is perhaps the oldest type of religion (defined as tight connection) described as, ‘Animism’ (from Latin: anima meaning ‘breath, spirit, life’). Animism perceives all things – animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in some cases words – as being animated, having agency and free will. In Hawai’i, Animism is foundational to our culture where we hold that all elements of nature – mountains, seas, winds, and plants – possess spirits, sacred significance, and consciousness. This worldview drives the Aloha ‘Aina (love of land) philosophy, where humans are not superior to, but rather relatives of, the natural environment, sharing a duty of stewardship. Those of us blessed to reside in Hawai’i invite all others to share in this worldview whether or not you ever have the pleasure of visiting our beautiful islands or just take the Honor of All Living Things to heart and share it with others…