Thanks to mobile phones and social media, we can consume and capture memories with just a few clicks. Still, there may never be a time stamp more effective than music.

When it comes to the wacky, tacky and off-the-wall trends and styles of the ’80s, Acid Wash parties were synonymous with unlocking the memory banks and daring desires of the era, bringing the music to the dance floors of Honolulu on a weekly basis.

From vintage-rock gems to the unforgettable, synth-laden dance anthems that have withstood the test of time, the playlist varied but always represented a cornucopia of throwback time capsule tunes.

This Friday, Acid Wash returns for an ’80s prom-themed, balloon- and streamer-filled get-down to celebrate 10 years of the reminiscing and rebuilding of good times.

WHEN MIKE “Vegas Mike” Licata decided to start Acid Wash in 2006, ’80s parties were generally one-off or once-a-year events at popular nightspots at the time.

Licata, who was new to the island and still learning the tendencies of Hawaii nightlife, used his experiences in Las Vegas and Los Angeles as a frame of reference. He brought in established vets to help cultivate his concept: DJs Nocturna, Greg “G-Spot” Dehnert and Jason “Quiksilva” Silva.

“The original idea was simple,” said Licata, who now resides in Las Vegas. He will be flying in to spin and celebrate the anniversary shindig he created. “A weekly event, no cover, cheap drinks, get girls to come out.”

The party wasn’t an overnight success, but with guarded optimism the Wednesday weekly stayed its course. After surviving the initial hurdles of getting folks to come out on a weeknight and diverge from their regular options, the core group of about 20 regulars began to grow after about a year. Word continued to spread, and at the peak hundreds of people were converging on Chinatown in search of a throwback music fix.

“Mike had a vision. He knew that each of us could bring something to the table,” Nocturna said. “All four of us, all different, coming from all walks of life, from all different genres of the ’80s, together made Acid Wash what it is today.”

THROUGHOUT the decadelong run, the Acid Wash brand, which has seen the likes of Andy Rourke, King Britt, Daniel Ash and Donald Glaude rock the house, survived a handful of venue changes and brief hiatuses, further proving that the ’80s vibe suited the tastes of even the most picky patrons.

“What can I say about the crowd — dedicated, knowledgeable music heads having a good time,” Licata said. “No one (was) on their phones, everyone smiling with hands in the air. It really was the best audience ever.”

“I made friends and made my mark in Honolulu with Acid Wash. When I look back both now and even decades from now, it will always be a big part of my Hawaii experience.”

The transcendental charm of the music combined with the energy of loyal patrons gave the Wednesday rides to “Funky Town,” “Kokomo,” “Paradise City” and the land “Down Under” an addictive boost of vitality.

According to Licata, who oversaw the party directly for six years before moving to the mainland, patience early on and assembling a strong, knowledgeable brain trust gave the nostalgic events longevity. The goal was always to allow the music and the crowd to be the stars.

“I always felt the four of us all had our own styles, passions, specialties, and that’s why it worked,” Licata said. “There was something for everyone on the dance floor; you might have to wait a minute for the DJ to get to it, but it’ll happen.”

Jams from the Cure, Duran Duran, Kool and the Gang, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Van Halen and Phil Collins will be brought to life by resident DJs who are fans of the era first.

With so many avenues and moods to choose from, Nocturna said there will be a deep arsenal to explore. She’s looking forward to reuniting with the other DJs, she said.

“Quiksilva plays the ’80s R&B and hip-hop. Mike plays the best new wave. G-Spot loves Prince, Madonna and Pet Shop Boys. And I love to play the darker, more obscure genres like Depeche Mode, New Order, Nitzer Ebb,” said Nocturna, who along with Dehnert remains a fixture in local nightlife circles. “We’re like a band playing different instruments and making music together.”

She added, “I truly believe in order to play the genre of the era effectively, a DJ needs to have lived the time to know the timeline and the decade, the history of the bands, the cultural movements that took place at the time … because by doing so, the spectators can feel it, too, and remember their special moments.”