Honolulu has a bad homeless problem, but they also provide free one-way plane tickets back to the mainland if there is family who says they'll help them get re-adjusted, so "not bussing (away) their problem" is not the issue.

Sorry this is simply impossible to take seriously as a comparison. Hawaii is literally surrounded by the world's most enormous, unswimmable moat. Homeless are thus predominantly going to come from within the islands existing population, with barely a trickle coming from outside. Compare this to California which you can hitchhike to, ride a boxcar to, drive a $300 beater to, take a greyhound to, or even walk to given enough time.

Avalon is also part of Los Angeles County, which adds to your moat analogy.

Honolulu's homeless problem is also nowhere near as bad as SF's, by the numbers. And for whatever reason, Honolulu's homeless seem way less addicted to drugs, and with fewer mental health issues.

SF will also provide bus tickets to homeless people if they have family elsewhere who can help care for them, but to me it seems the program is under-utilized.