Hiakowa was born in Akita, Japan, Earth to an historian father and physician mother. He has two younger sisters, Michiko and Kimi. Although his parents discouraged it, Hiakowa entered Starfleet Academy and the USS Endeavour is his first assignment. He is polite and generally has several friends, but rarely forms close friendships. Hiakowa enjoys swimming, reading classic adventure stories and loves plants of all kinds. He ranks as a 2nd dan blackbelt in judo, but dedicates little to no time for practice when he is not at home. Hiakowa is 1.65 meters tall with dark hair and dark brown eyes. He is single.