Traffic flow for the 21st annual Kaneohe Bay Airshow and BayFest this year is not expected to be the nightmare many recall from last year.

For one thing, there are no Grammy-winning hip-hop megagroups headlining BayFest.

"The congestion that occurred last year — it was because of the Black Eyed Peas and it caused a lot of problems," said Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Chairman Roy Yanagihara.

Instead, the event will feature evening concerts by local acts like Kings of Spade, Natural Vibrations and Willie K.

Hundreds of concertgoers were enraged last year when the traffic jam caused them to miss most of the hip-hop group’s show. Some reported waiting for three hours in traffic.

Event planners used post-event reports from previous years to plan for ways to keep this year’s traffic moving.

"We will be opening a third inbound lane for traffic from the H-3 and using a vastly different parking strategy," said Marine Capt. Gerard W. Vanderwaal from the base’s Provost Marshal Office. "There are certainly challenges with pulling 13,000 cars a day through a single access point, but the plan is solid and, maybe more importantly, flexible."

Traffic arriving for the air show will be routed through the main gate. Outbound traffic will have two lanes.

This year the air show is offering premium parking for groups who carpool. Vehicles with four or more occupants arriving before 10:30 a.m. can park at spots nearest to the show grounds.

The base also commissioned 46 shuttles to run throughout the weekend to take visitors from 48 parking areas and the show site. There will also be shuttle service between Pali Palms Plaza on North Kalaheo Avenue and the base.

Remote parking from Ford Island will not be available.

"The most important difference is that this event is not a ‘point-in-time’ event like last year, so we are expecting steady traffic throughout the entire day," Vanderwaal said in reference to the Black Eyed Peas performance. "Entertainment will begin at 9 a.m. and go well into the evening, so we are encouraging patrons to come early and stay late."

Yanagihara said he is glad planners scheduled events without forcing people to arrive at a certain time. The board has heard no concerns about an anticipated traffic jam this year.

He said the event appears more family oriented, focusing on keiki games, miniature golf and inflatable bouncers. A "Taste of Oahu" event, new to BayFest, will highlight restaurant menus.

"It’s a much more low-key event," he said.

Lookout points between Kaneohe Bay Drive and Mokapu Saddle Road will be closed in both directions from 6 a.m. today through 6 p.m. Sunday to prohibit parking during the air show.

There will be no lanes closed along the H-3 freeway, said state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tammy Mori.

"Our main message is to not stop alongside the traffic," Mori said. "It can look like a parking lot sometimes. … We are working closely with the Honolulu Police Department to ensure it does not happen."

Police Maj. Susan Ballard, commander of District 4, said officers on motorcycles will be monitoring freeway traffic and help with the flow.

"We are reminding drivers to stay off the shoulder lanes," Ballard said. "The shoulder lanes are for emergencies only. Stopping there creates a safety hazard."

Ballard said officers will issue citations if cars are parked alongside the freeway.