Hikaru Sulu was a Human who lived during the 20th and 21st centuries. He had at least one nephew, Akira Sulu, who was the ancestor of 23rd century Starfleet officer Hikaru Sulu. When the 23rd century Hikaru traveled back in time from 2286 to 1986, he happened to meet his ancestor Akira on the streets of San Francisco. The child believed Hikaru Sulu to be his uncle, who strongly resembled Akira's eventual descendant.