A practical method is derived for determining the unit hydrograph and S-curve from complex storm events by using a smoothed unit kernel approach. The using a unit kernel yields more convenient way of constructing a unit hydrograph and its S-curve than a conventional method. However, with use of real data, the unit kernel oscillates and is unstable so that a unit hydrograph and S-curve cannot easily obtained. The use of non-parametric ridge regression with a Laplacian matrix is suggested for deriving an event averaged unit kernel which reduces the computational efforts when dealing with the Nash instantaneous unit hydrograph as a basis of the kernel. A method changing the unit hydrograph duration is also presented. The procedure shown in this work will play an efficient role when any unit hydrograph works is involved.