Possibly. But there are a few things that may prevent me from using the title, none of which are--thankfully--because the title is already copyrighted. I draw my title from the Pu`uhonua of Hônaunau. Hônaunau is a district of the Big Island of Hawai`i. This western area is known for its pu`uhonua, or "city of refuge" (virtual tour). This pu`uhonua is the symbolic focus of the story. From the National Park Service website:

Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu or one of the ancient laws against the gods could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or "pu`uhonua". The offender would [be] absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle.

The biggest problem with the title is, there are no "gates" at Hônaunau. The most prominent feature of the area is a 10-foot-high, 17-foot-thick stone wall that separated the refuge city from the nearby palace grounds. Entrance to the city--as far as I can tell--was gained where the wall met the shore, or directly from the ocean. But metaphorically, "gate" would be the appropriate word. "Gate" represents a threshold, a distinguishing boundary, etc. I haven't reconciled this little conflict yet, so for now, the NaNo title will still be "working title." ----- The plot:

In a small Southern rural town, Heroine's mother reveals from her deathbed enigmatic information which eventually leads Heroine to a grotesque discovery--she may be the product of a rape. Heroine's world shatters as she faces the reality of her identity. Desperate to understand the trauma, Heroine journeys to her mother's Hawai`i birthplace and forms a relationship with Aunty, her mother's twin sister. While immersing in the family's heritage, Heroine and Aunty grow close, and Heroine learns the depths of her mother's suffering while continuing the search for healing, self-forgiveness, and God's mercy.